The Wood File - CJME / CKOM
The Wood File with Murray Wood - October 2, 2024
It's interesting that the Saskatchewan election kicked off in the same day that the provincial minimum wage went up. We are no longer the lowest in the country. Now, we're tied with Alberta for the lowest in the country. Fifteen dollars an hour. I can remember when that was a lot of money. It was a while ago. Some might find it odd that a province boasting of its prosperity and the need for workers still expects the lowest paid to survive in slightly over $30,000 a year if they work full-time. That's really still not a living wage when you consider the cost of living. For a business that says it can't afford to pay its employees a living wage, your business model relies on paying people starvation wages. We're neither the poorest province nor the cheapest to live in, but we continue to have the lowest minimum wage in the entire country. A survey this year found 46% of Saskatchewan people struggle with the cost of living. Something to consider as we examine the promises coming our way in the next few weeks. I'm Murray Wood.