Conservatives Vote Against $15 Minimum Wage

PC MPPs voted against historic legislation for fair workplaces and better jobs

This afternoon Patrick Brown’s PC caucus voted against historic changes to create fairer and better workplaces that include raising Ontario’s general minimum wage. In public comments over the last few months Patrick Brown said that increasing the minimum wage is “too much, too soon” (Toronto Star; May 31, 2017) and won’t commit to not rolling back the $15 minimum wage increase in future years.
PC MPPs voted against measures that include:

· Raising Ontario’s minimum wage to $14/hour in 2018 and to $15/hour in 2019, with further increases based on inflation;
· Mandating equal pay for part-time, temporary, casual and seasonal employees doing the same job as full-time employees;
· Expanding personal emergency leave to 10 days per year, including two paid;
· Ensuring at least three weeks of vacation after five years of service;
· Fairer employee scheduling, including requiring employees to be paid for three hours if a shift is cancelled within 48 hours of its start time.

Brown and his party have also opposed free pharmacare for Ontarians under age 25, 100,000 new child care spaces, free tuition for students and 25% off hydro bills.