Photo by Whitehorse Star
Community Services Minister John Streicker
Territory’s minimum wage to increase
The Yukon’s minimum wage will rise from $11.51 to $12.71 per hour on April 1, the territorial government announced Wednesday.
The Yukon’s minimum wage will rise from $11.51 to $12.71 per hour on April 1, the territorial government announced Wednesday.
This is an increase of 90 cents, plus the 2018 Consumer Price Index of 2.4 per cent.
At the request of Community Services Minister John Streicker, the Employment Standards Board conducted a review of the minimum wage in 2018 and submitted its report and recommendation last Nov. 30.
The government accepted the board’s overall report. For recommendations on how to implement increases for 2020 and 2021, Streicker has asked the board to consider:
• changes in the annual Consumer Price Index;
• a comparison and monitoring of other jurisdictions;
• an economic impact analysis of additional increases, which the government will commission and provide; and
• any other relevant information that the board chooses to evaluate.
“Thank you to the Employment Standards Board for conducting a review of the minimum wage in Yukon and to all Yukoners who contributed to the process,” Streicker said in a statement.
“This increase to the minimum wage will help support lower-income Yukoners.
“Yukon will be better able to attract and retain workers in sectors where staffing is an ongoing challenge.”
The Yukon’s minimum wage increases according to the annual increase in the Whitehorse Consumer Price Index on April 1 of each year.
The index is a baseline set on a basket of daily purchases such as fuel, food and clothing.
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Comments (14)
Up 1 Down 1
Groucho d'North on Mar 13, 2019 at 8:25 pm
Minimum wage is the lowest common denominator for the working class, it is a benchmark from which to measure one's ambition and commitment to do well for themselves, their work ethic and ambitions guiding their character which influence their quality of work. I think our young people need to be reminded more frequently that they can achieve great things if they would learn to dedicate themselves to improving their abilities and their work. After all who doesn't like getting a raise and appreciation for work well done?
Up 2 Down 0
Herb Al Green on Mar 13, 2019 at 7:23 pm
Sounds racist Brian - Jobs not in your community then move? Is that not how colonization started? Looking for new opportunities in new lands...
What we should do is pool everyone’s money together and dole it out so that everyone gets an equal share. Then we rid ourselves of the notion of minimum wage.
Up 6 Down 1
Juniper Jackson on Mar 12, 2019 at 11:40 pm
Wally..why do you think people want to dope up on that crap? Less addicts and less deaths? You must be indulging quite a lot if you think everyone will adopt your habit, and then call it saving money. If that is what you choose, fine..your choice.. "These people instead of a pay raise could use free medical marijuana of say 3 and 1/2 grams per day just to deal with pain, appetite and insomnia" You may speak for yourself, you may not speak for me.
The increase in the minimum wage.. well.. we've got to pay it whether they are career welfare, or trying to make it at Walmarts or Tim's. It is far more lucrative to be on welfare in the Yukon than to go to work even for an increase in the minimum wage. Maybe 2 levels of minimum wage.. one for 16 or so, and under and one for an adult. If freebies are going out, I'd like to see free education for everyone.. Just a side note.. no one is paying minimum wage.. most places are starting at $15. or more..
Up 22 Down 8
Max Mack on Mar 11, 2019 at 11:44 am
The minimum wage is not designed to guarantee a "living wage", whatever that means. And trying to force the minimum wage to perform that function will seriously muck with business and the economy. Stop playing political football with the minimum wage to gain votes.
Minimum wage earners are typically young (or new entrants to the labour force) and unskilled or post-secondary students looking to offset their living expenses while attending college. Minimum wage earners should not be guaranteed a "living wage", merely an entry level wage.
Are you to tell me that young workers and students who still live at home should earn a "living wage"? That's utter nonsense.
A 10% increase in the minimum wage means those additional costs must be passed onto consumers. In other words, expect costs of goods and services to rise yet again.
Up 15 Down 8
Wally on Mar 11, 2019 at 7:32 am
Don't forget those on fixed incomes such as vets, seniors, people on disabled pensions for cerebral palsy, parkinsons, ms, arthritis, dementia, rheumatism, etc. These people instead of a pay raise could use free medical marijuana of say 3 and 1/2 grams per day just to deal with pain, appetite and insomnia instead of costing the system huge amounts with opiates and Nsaids. I'm guessing this would be somewhere around 2000 people and could easily result in a net saving for the tax payer besides a healthier, happier population. Less addicts=less deaths.
Up 29 Down 5
YukonMax on Mar 11, 2019 at 7:04 am
Hwys and Public works hires students in the summer starting at $27.00 an hour. That's what is wrong to start with.
Up 27 Down 6
alex on Mar 10, 2019 at 10:32 am
@Brian,
Perfect summary of what is wrong with today's entitled generation. Well said sir.
Also, just to add, pretty sad regarding offering jobs for general labor at $21 an hour and not being able to fill them.
Up 20 Down 12
The Liberal Nightmare on Mar 9, 2019 at 7:16 pm
With My Opinion - Yes, you are correct - Liberal governments are dangerously licenscious, impulsively-irresponsible, and tend towards authoritarian rule.
They are expensive and tend to be sociopathic, violators of ethical restraint who think nothing of taking from others to give to those with parasitic tendencies.
Up 47 Down 6
Brian on Mar 9, 2019 at 6:53 am
Yes folks it’s “Minimum Wage”, an entry level wage, for generally Low to No Skill requirements. It’s there so that employers can’t say , oh here’s $5 for the day.
So as a youth when you start working at 12 in a grocery store or services sector, the motivation to buy that jacked up Diesel truck or ticket out of the small town, is learn a skill and seek higher wages.
If your not motivated, and playing Grand Theft Auto 5 in your parents basement, well your parents failed you as a youth and it’s now up to you to grow up and go earn a living.
And it’s not like I am educated, I failed Grade 8 and dropped out of high school. So I have had many road blocks to pursuing higher wages, yet I still fought on and worked hard.
Having never been a Union guy, I have always had to do a good job, show up for work ready, sober and on time. My job security has always been to do a better job then the guy beside me.
Having learned those skills from a young age in the working class, I am able to relocate anywhere and secure employment.
So if your complaining about your Miminum Wage job, then look around and see what jobs pay, what you want to earn, and get the skills required for that position.
And if the jobs are not in your community, guess what, it’s called “Migration” it’s what humans have done since time immoral when things are not as good as you want where you are.
Don’t focus on what’s stopping you, focus on what’s going to get you there.
If not, then do what you do best and complain it’s the governments fault you can’t get ahead, and Foreign workers are taking your jobs.
As an employer in the Construction sector, I had openings for 3 persons last summer. 1 Carpenter $32 hr and 2 labourers $21 hr of the 12 resumes I received, no one was willing to work for less then $30 hr, of which none of those applicants had the skills or experience required to earn that wage. Nor could they pass a Venerable Sector RCMP clearance or didn’t want to try.
The level of entitlement is disgusting. Absolutely gross, and it’s causing short falls in our ability to fill skilled positions in all sectors. That’s why we have brought in Foreign Workers, to fill the void.
So if you're an adult, earning minimum wage (and I know this doesn’t apply to everyone) then it’s up to you to bring your skills, attitude and personal presentation up to the level that you think you deserve.
Up 25 Down 12
My Opinion on Mar 8, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Get ready for spiralling inflation. Minimum wage increase, Property tax up, utilities up, Carbon Tax, Interest rates up, Oh we need a raise again and away we go. Trudeau did the same thing and in 1982 I had a 21.75% Mortgage and houses were being repossessed everywhere. I can't believe people do not get it.
Up 21 Down 18
Wilf carter on Mar 8, 2019 at 2:19 pm
It not the wage amount it is the taxes. Liberal politicians don't get. Change the tax levels. Anyone earning under $25,000 pay no taxes. This will help low income earners by putting more in their pockets and at the same time make Yukon economy strong. I studied resource economies and this is simple math.
Up 23 Down 20
DodgersAlpha on Mar 8, 2019 at 6:58 am
Man oh man is this Territory out to lunch. Who can live here on this minimum wage? Or, are they thinking only high school students, living at home, are the typical worker? Was there not a study done recently that recommended a much higher rate ($18 or $19/hr if I remember correctly)? Couple the low minimum wage with lack of low cost housing and I guess employers figure their workers will just have to find friends with an available couch. Disgusting, really.
Up 17 Down 6
Even Steven on Mar 7, 2019 at 4:23 pm
A 9.5% increase. Drinks all around and 2 for my friends... Everybody drinks today!
Up 21 Down 3
Thomas Brewer on Mar 7, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Temporary Foreign Workers are guaranteed the HIGHER of the median wage listed at the Job Bank or what other employees are being paid. Here's the info and a link to a basic retail worker (who in all likelihood is getting minimum wage):
Wages offered to temporary foreign workers should be similar to wages paid to Canadian and permanent resident employees hired for the same job and work location, and with similar skills and years of experience.
For the purpose of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, you must pay the prevailing wage which is defined as the highest of either:
•the median wage on Job Bank
•the wage that is within the wage range that you are paying your current employees hired for the same job and work location, and with the same skills and years of experience
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/20599/22309