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City of Ottawa unanimously endorses $10 minimum wage

Mayor Larry O'Brien and councillors petition Ontario legislature members to pass Bill 150

 

Ottawa (30 March 2007) - The City of Ottawa has unanimously passed a resolution endorsing a $10 an hour minimum wage and petitioning the Ontario legislature to get on with the passage of Bill 150, putting the new rate into effect immediately across the province.

Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien and NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo

Bill 150 is the New Democratic Party's Living Wage Act, introduced last fall by Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo. The proposal has already gone through first and second reading at Queen's Park and is currently being studied by the legislature's standing committee on estimates. DiNovo is a United Church minister.

The surprise endorsement of the NDP initiative by the entire city council is drawing rave reviews from community and labour groups, who see the symbolism of the country's National Capital taking such action as sending a strong signal to elected politicians in all parts of the country.

If Ottawa's often-divided and fractious council - led by Mayor Larry O'Brien, a pro-business, high-tech millionaire - can come together on such a basic social issue, there is hope that many other cities will do the same, says the Ottawa and District Labour Council.

“It’s clear to us and should be to all of those within our community that our city council is indeed aware of the plight of all low wage workers," adds council president Sean McKenny.

Resolution
Approved unanimously by Ottawa City Council - 28 March 2007

Therefore be it resolved:

  1. That Ottawa City Council endorse Provincial Bill 150, which would raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour;
  2. That Ottawa City Council petition the Legislature of Ontario to enact Bill 150; and
  3. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, and to Ottawa-area Members of Provincial Parliament.

The labour council, which has been the voice of the labour movement in Ottawa since 1872, speaks for about 45,000 workers in the national capital region. It brings together about 90 area unions representing all sectors in the community.

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has been among the most vocal groups demanding fair minimum wage laws in Canada. NUPGE

More information:
• Text of Bill 150: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act

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