On June 30, the Chamber submitted its recommendations to the provincial Employment Standards Board’s Annual Minimum Wage Rate Review on behalf of our members.
Recommendations to the Employment Standard Board included that the provincial government:
- Define its desired outcome for minimum wage, review current methodology, and develop a long-term strategy for minimum wage within the next six months as a way to create a transparent, fair, and predictable process.
- Set its desired minimum wage target, and once the target is achieved, begin to tie future minimum wage increases to the prior year consumer Price Index.
- Continue to raise the Basic Personal Amount to better align with the national average of $13,092.
- Re-evaluate its income tax bracket model to better align with the Atlantic provinces and leave more money in the pockets of Islanders, especially low-income Islanders.
- Mandate that a notice of a minimum wage rate change be given no later than six months before a scheduled increase.
“The Chamber does not oppose modest increases to minimum wage when deemed necessary. We believe Government can do more to put money in the pocket of lslanders by increasing the Basic Personal Amount and reducing the amount we are taxing those in the lowest tax bracket,” said Chamber CEO Robert Godfrey. “The Chamber believes in the partnership of business and Government ensuring Islanders have proper disposable income and would ask Government not rely on the small business community to shoulder this important task alone.”
Click here to view and download a copy of the submission.
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About The Chamber:
The Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce connects business and community and is PEI’s largest business advocacy organization with more than 1,100 members. For more information on the Chamber visit www.charlottetownchamber.com.
Media Contact:
Madeline Biso
Policy and Communications Specialist
mbiso@charlottetownchamber.com
(902) 628-2000 x 224