Recently here in Ontario it has been announced by Premier Kathleen Wynne that starting January first of next year the minimum wage will increase from $11.60/hr to $14/hr. After the announcement social media lit up with outrage and uneducated commentary. Some of which I find understandable especially from local business owners who will most likely be forced to make serious cuts to staff and workers fighting to keep their benefits already as is. But what I found odd was who the anger was pointed at and the complete lack of basic economic understanding.
The anger was not directed at the economic policies of the government, or the crazy increase in housing and food prices, or even the Bank of Canada which is actually responsible for the inflation rate in Canada. For some reason people were blaming the minimum wage workers them self. I can not understand this at all, I know economics isn't exactly a popular subject but I like to think Canadians are smarter than that. I try to explain to people that minimum wage increases are a result of inflation not the source. I do not agree with the current Provincial Governments economic plans either but minimum wage workers in no way have any real say in Canadian economics.
In fact, minimum wage workers hold the worst jobs and most often are not students but parents just trying to support their families. Most could only dream of having a union to stand up for them or any kind of company benefits and are only given part-time hours so it becomes necessary to hold multiple jobs just to make a living. These people are not the enemy they are the back bone of our economy who have very little say in these issues. They are not our enemy they are victims of a rough economy as much, if not more so than everyone else.
-dp1011
source: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/05/ontario-raising-minimum-wage-to-15-per-hour.html