Raising the minimum wage: small business realities must be part of the equation

Whenever minimum wage increases are proposed, CFIB makes sure that your viewpoint is taken into consideration. We monitor the situation on an ongoing basis and make alternative proposals to the government that reflect your realities in order to avoid the negative impact of a drastic increase in the minimum wage.

We advocate for your interests by:

• Asking the government not to raise the minimum wage too radically and to base any such hike on the increase in the cost of living.
• Asking the government to lighten your tax burden (income and payroll taxes) in order to offset the minimum wage increase.
• Proposing more effective measures to the government for combatting poverty.

Consequences for SMEs and the Quebec economy as a whole
It is important for the government to fully understand that drastically increasing the minimum wage has an impact on jobs, hours worked and the prices of your products and services.
Any such increase produces a domino effect that puts upward pressure on all your labour costs – a consequence that could be avoided by implementing more effective measures to help low-income families.

Bringing your perspective to the media

Check out these interviews (in French) of Senior Vice-President Martine Hébert in her discussions with Mario Dumont and with Pierre Bruneau about raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour.

Here is a list of some of our initiatives (all in French):

• Martine Hébert interviewed on CKOI about increasing the minimum wage to $12 an hour.
• Martine Hébert debating the minimum wage increase to $12 with CSN President Jacques Létourneau on 98.5 FM’s Drainville PM broadcast.
• CFIB Director of Economic Affairs Simon Gaudreault on RDI’s Période des questions program.
• Our reaction to raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour in the Journal de Montréal.

We have also produced several letters and reports to call attention to the impact of increasing the minimum wage too drastically, including:

• Our letter to the Minister responsible for Labour (in French).
• Our open letter entitled Myths and realities about a $15 minimum wage, which has been picked up for publication by a large number of newspapers.
• Our Minimum Wage: Reframing the Debate report.

If you would like to voice your opinions on the minimum wage, give us a call! We look forward to continuing the fight with you.