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