September 13, 2007

NDP announces Key Commitment: Raise minimum wage, roll back McGuinty pay hike

[Elmvale] – Katy Austin NDP candidate for Simcoe Grey says working families deserve a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work. The NDP’s second key commitment, announced by party leader Howard Hampton today, is raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour and rolling back the $40,000 pay hike Dalton McGuinty gave himself last Christmas.

“When I go out and talk with working families in Simcoe Grey, too many say they’re having a hard time making ends meet,” said Austin. “Dalton McGuinty promised to help working families, he promised to make life better and more affordable for them. Instead he gave himself a $40,000 pay raise, and is making them wait three years to earn $1.50 an hour more.”

MPPs were already in the top 10 per cent of income earners when McGuinty Liberals and Conservatives teamed up to ram through their pay hike in just eight days. Now, MPPs are in the top five per cent, with Dalton McGuinty in the top two per cent with a wage of $198,620.  Meanwhile, McGuinty’s unfair minimum wage of $8 an hour continues to leave thousands of working people in poverty – primarily women and New Canadians.

“Dalton McGuinty just doesn’t get it. How can he give himself a $40,000 pay raise while so many working families are struggling to make ends meet,” said Austin.   “That’s just not right. The NDP will give workers the fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work they deserve, and we’ll roll back McGuinty’s $40,000 pay raise. That’s a commitment you can count on,” she said

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Media Inquiries:

Katy Austin

705 -322 -2265