The minimum wage continues to be a layered issue still stacked in the Sask. Party’s favour.
Or, better put, the NDP seems caught between what its traditional allies want and what might cost it votes.
In case you missed it (although that seems unlikely, because the government keeps re-announcing it), come Oct. 1, the final stage of a multi-year minimum-wage catchup program kicks in.
Of course, the Sask. Party is eager to trumpet this as many times as it can before the writs drop in all 61 ridings in three months. And why not?
It is great news, right?
Well, sort of. It’s better, but perhaps not quite as great as the government is making it out to be. Really, it remains an issue that should still be fodder for the NDP.
While a three-year, 27-per-cent wage increase sounds generous, a $15-an-hour minimum remains $2.30 less than the federal minimum and will remain the lowest in the nation, tied with Alberta, when it kicks in.
But here’s where minimum wage politics gets interesting.
When asked for a response, the NDP Opposition didn’t offer the usual bluster, to which we’ve grown accustomed.
Instead, reporters got an emailed response from Opposition economy critic Aleana Young, suggesting that while her party is “focused on bigger paycheques” for, presumably, everyone, “we won’t leave working people behind.”
Huh? Focused on bigger paycheques? What’s that mean? What about the minimum wage?
Sure, it’s a bit early for campaign planks, but not even a hint? This was a party calling in 2022 for a one-per-cent royalty hike for two years to hand out $125 cheques to everyone.
As for the minimum wage, the NDP and others have been saying since 2022 that $15 an hour was needed immediately and not in 2024. So, not even “too little, too late”?
Noticeably, Young didn’t follow presumed NDP allies in the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour who talked about how the overall average wage in the province has decreased by six per cent.
Nor did she quote the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which was vocal about a $15-an-hour Saskatchewan minimum wage still falling well below the “living wage,” which is now calculated to be around $17.90 an hour in Regina and $18.95 an hour in Saskatoon.
Surely, the increase is still not enough, as evidenced by the fact that every other province pays more. Noted Craig Pickthorne of Living Wage Canada, “Nobody could make ends meet in Regina or Saskatoon working minimum wage full-time, even after this year’s increase.”
This is true. But Young’s vague and tempered response seemed an acknowledgement that the minimum wage issue continues to be a layered one still stacked in the Sask. Party’s favour.
The difficulty for the NDP on the minimum wage is the reality that the minimum wage is a starter job wage for young people, a low-skilled wage or a wage for second-income jobs in households.
A “living wage”? It’s not, but it’s never been designed as such.
And given that booming Alberta has the same far-too-low minimum wage, it’s hard for the NDP to argue it’s an impediment to prosperity.
It’s always been difficult in Saskatchewan to find the correct balance between employee and employer.
As noted by Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce policy director Margot Orr, “many business owners are grappling with increasing costs to operate,” including restaurants still struggling to keep their doors open after COVID-19.
Given the penchant of this Sask. Party government to cave in to its base, it’s rather noticeable that bragging about a modest minimum wage increase isn’t keeping its allies in business happy, either.
It’s almost as noticeable as the NDP not really committing to doing things much differently.
Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
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