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Is it true that there is no way for low-wage workers to get ahead unless government forces minimum wages onto employers?

According to many politicians and labour leaders, it is.

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced he will scrap the former Liberal government’s Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, known as Bill 148.

The controversial bill forced extra expenses on businesses in Ontario, including an unprecedented steep increase in minimum wage.

If the 2019 increase put in place by the Liberals were to go ahead, the minimum wage jump from $11.40 to $15 by 2019 (+$3.60) would be an increase of 32% in 18 months.

Ford proposes to keep the wage at $14 in 2019.

Naturally, the usual opponents trotted out the spin.

Ontario Federation of Labour president Chris Buckley, quoted in ssaultonline.com, said, “For our government to answer the call of big business by hurting the people he has promised to defend is shameful. The workers of this province will not rest until these protections in the workplace are guaranteed.”