Nunavut should raise minimum wage, workers say

DENISE RIDEOUT

IQALUIT — At a public meeting this week, Iqaluit residents and business people argued that Nunavut’s minimum wage for workers is way too low.

The meeting, held by the Maligarnit Qimirrujiit, or the Nunavut Law Review Commission, was aimed at gathering suggestions on how to improve the Labour Standards Act.

The act, which regulates work hours, minimum wages, vacation leave, pregnancy leave and other employment issues, was inherited by Nunavut from the Northwest Territories.

The Nunavut government is looking to create its own territorial labour standards act. Maligarnit Qimirrujiit’s stop in Iqaluit was one of the many community consultations it’s undertaking in its review of the law.

At the Feb. 6 meeting, Richard Gillis, Nunavut’s labour standards officer, gave the audience an overview of labour regulations in Nunavut.

He pointed out that the act is missing some essential points. For example, there’s nothing in it dealing with labour disputes between workers and employers, there’s no job protection for people required to serve on juries, nor does it deal with people who work out of their homes.

Gillis suggested these might be things Nunavummiut would like to see in the new act.

When he opened the floor for suggestions, the minimum wage was a hot issue on people’s minds.

“One recommendation I’d like to make is changes to the minimum wage,” said one woman in the audience. “It has to go up. Private agencies can’t compete with government [wages] and we’re losing good people.”

Another resident, Mary Ellen Thomas, agreed the $7 minimum wage doesn’t reflect the realities of living in the North.

“The minimum wage in B.C., where the cost of living is cheaper, is more than in Nunavut,” she said.

Thomas also suggested that Nunavut adopt the new federal law regarding maternity leave. Last year the Canadian government extended the length of the leave for new parents from six months to one year.

But employees in Nunavut can’t take advantage of that until it’s added to the territory’s Labour Standards Act. Thomas said adopting that should be a priority.

“Employees are entitled to it as citizens of Canada, but they’re not entitled to it as citizens of Nunavut,” she said.

During the two-hour meeting, most of the participants’ comments focused on employee’s rights.

But one man claimed the act too often favours workers’ interests and does little to protect employers.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the time it’s the employees’ word that counts,” said the man, who’s been employing people in the construction business for years.

He also suggested the law that stipulates employees can’t work more than 60 hours a week doesn’t sit well with the construction industry. He said carpenters and other tradespeople who come up from the South to work in Nunavut are interested in making money — and that requires working long hours.

Members of the Maligarnit Qimirrujiit noted his suggestions, along with the others, and will put them together in a report. It will then be presented to the legislative assembly, which has the final say on any changes to legislation in Nunavut.