Media Advisory: Holiday Spirit Inspires Action on $14 Minimum Wage


TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 11, 2013) - At a time of year when many of us are wishing peace and joy to all, communities are calling on Premier Kathleen Wynne to make 2014 merry and bright by raising the minimum wage to $14 for all workers. On December 14, community members across Ontario will be collecting holiday cards addressed to the Premier.

"This is a time of year when we think about others, wishing them peace, joy and prosperity for the future," said Motilall Sarjoo, president of the Brampton, Mississauga and District Labour Council. "But we also want to see prosperity for our local communities - a $14 minimum wage will help our communities thrive and prosper."

The minimum wage has been frozen for over three years, pushing Ontario workers nearly 20% below the poverty line. The government-appointed Minimum Wage Advisory Panel is expected to make its recommendations in early 2014.

"Raising low-income workers above the poverty-line doesn't have to be just a holiday wish," says Tara Kainer of the social justice office of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul in Kingston. "It would only take leadership from Premier Kathleen Wynne and our Members of Provincial Parliament to increase the minimum wage to $14 an hour."

"Increasing the minimum wage will strengthen our economy and create jobs, by pumping over $5 billion annually into Ontario's economy" says Terri Carter, of Poverty-Free Thunder Bay. "Fair wages in 2014 will mean a brighter future for all of us."

For more information on the campaign, visit: www.raisetheminimumwage.ca.

Follow the campaign Twitter account @fairwagesnow and hashtag #14now.

Provincial actions and contacts:

Barrie Saturday, Dec. 14, 11:00am
Rally at Walmart North Barrie (Meet at the Livingston Street entrance)
David Bradbury: (705) 881-5984
Brampton Saturday, Dec. 14
Outreach blitz
Motilall Sarjoo (Sarj): (416) 709-6352
Burlington Saturday, Dec. 14, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Leafleting at Downtown Bus Terminal (John and Lakeshore Rd East)
Cathy Stokes: cmordue.55@gmail.com
Cobourg Thursday, Dec. 12, 2:00 - 3:00pm
Leaflet action
Fleming Building, Dollar Store, Rogers parking lot.
Teresa Williams: williamst@lao.on.ca
Guelph Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, 6:00 - 8:00pm
The Soup, Socks, Skating and Song Event
Market Square, City Hall
Janice Folk-Dawson: jfd@members.cupe.ca
Hamilton Saturday, Dec. 14, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Speakers, music and outreach
Jackson Square
Mary Long: (905) 547-2944 x1
Kitchener Saturday, Dec. 14, 2:00 - 4:00pm
Outreach blitz, with elves and Santa Claus handing out candy canes
Fairview Mall, meet at Bay entrance, near bus depot entrance
Marc Xuereb: 519-588-0188
Kingston Friday, Dec. 13, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Leaflet action outside MPP John Gerretsen's office
303 Bagot Street, Suite #2 - LaSalle Mews Plaza
Tara Kainer: (613) 544-4525 ext. 113, tarakainer@providence.ca
London Saturday, Dec. 14, 3:00pm
Candy canes and card signing
Dundas and Richmond Streets
Patti Dalton: (519) 494-3901, pattidalton@gmail.com
Peterborough Saturday, Dec. 14, 1:00-3:00pm
Serving hot chocolate, candy canes, caroling and card signing.
Peterborough Square (George & Simcoe)
Paul Brown: (705) 559-1397, pbrown@uwpeterborough.ca
Sudbury Saturday, Dec. 14, 12:00pm
Outreach blitz at New Sudbury Shopping mall
Meet at the bus stop on Barrydowne near the Shopper's Drug Mart entrance
Christy Knockleby: (249) 878-7227
Toronto Saturday, Dec. 14, 11:15am - 1:00pm
Holiday Action for $14 Now
Eaton's Centre (Dundas and Yonge)
Sonia Singh: (647) 235-6912
Saturday, Dec. 14, 1:00 - 3:00pm
Petition drive
Malvern Town Centre, 31 Tapscott Rd. (at Neilson Rd. and McLevin Ave.)
Jennifer Huang: (647) 466-0112, jhuang@labourcouncil.ca
Thunder Bay Saturday, Dec. 14, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Public signing petitions and post cards to the Premier of Ontario
Meet at Memorial Avenue. and Isabel Street.
Terri Carter: (807) 577-5833, povertyfreetb@gmail.com
Welland Saturday, Dec. 14, 8:00am - 12:00pm
Outreach Blitz
Welland Market, 50 Market Square (on the Corner of Young and Division Streets)
Sue Hotte: (905) 932-1646
Whitby Saturday, Dec. 14, 2:00pm
Action outside office of MPP Christine Elliot's office
101 - 114 Dundas Street East, Whitby
Jim Freeman: (905) 431-5607, jimfreeman301@gmail.com
Woodstock Saturday, Dec. 14
Outreach at Woodstock Farmers Market
875 Nellis Street, Woodstock
Broderick Carey: (519) 421-5938

The Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage is coordinated by ACORN, Freedom 90, Mennonite New Life Centre, OCAP, Ontario Campaign 2000, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Put Food in the Budget, Social Planning Toronto, Toronto and York Region Labour Council and Workers' Action Centre.

Contact Information:

Sonia Singh
(647) 235-6912 or (416) 531-0778, ext. 221
sonia@workersactioncentre.org