'I want my staff to come to work and be happy': Minimum wage hike welcomed in Waterloo Region
Making chocolate and pastries at Ambrosia Corner Bakery in Kitchener is going to get a little costlier for its independent owner-operator — but, it’s well worth it if you ask her.
On Tuesday, Premier Doug Ford announced the general minimum wage in Ontario would increase from $14.35 to $15 an hour as of Jan. 1.
“I’ve got skilled bakers,” said Aura Hertzog, the owner-operator of Ambrosia. “I’m not going to pay them a minimum wage. I’m going to pay them what they’re worth.”
Hertzog’s bakery is one of more than 60 certified Ontario Living Wage employers in Waterloo Region.
She welcomes the increase as a step towards a living wage.
“I want my staff to come to work and be happy,” said Hertzog. “When they’re not working, I want them to be able to afford some of the basics.”
Those basics are on the rise and so too is the hourly living wage set by the Ontario Living Wage Network. In its November update, the group puts a living wage in Waterloo Region at $17.20/hour. In Guelph the amount has risen to $18.10/hour, in the Huron and Perth regions it’s up to $17.95/hour while in Haldimand-Norfolk it’s now set at $17.35/hour.
The Uptown Waterloo BIA welcomes the increase; however, its executive director, Tracy Van Kalsbeek, believes government assistance may be required to help businesses recovering from the pandemic.
“It would be something that we would advocate on behalf of small business and small independent businesses, that the government consider finding some additional funding to be able to assist businesses with this because it’s such a challenging time,” said Van Kalsbeek.
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce issued a statement, describing the decision as ill-timed and lacking consultation.
“We are in favour of fair compensation and wage increases that are planned and done in consultation with the business community so that businesses have time to plan and implement the changes. We also recognize that workers have been impacted by the pandemic and higher cost of living,” said Rocco Rossi, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
“Many businesses are still grappling with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, including cash flow constraints and the increased cost of doing business; this is no time to add to their costs,” continued the statement. “The way the proposed changes are being implemented, leaving employers with less than two months to plan, will have considerable administrative and financial impact amidst a pandemic and after 20 months of duress.”
Van Kalsbeek says businesses in the region have survived six years of new light-rail transit construction and the hardships of pandemic lockdowns, and expects they’ll be able to adapt and adjust again.
“Our businesses are resilient,” said Van Kalsbeek. “A lot of our businesses have been able to change up the way they do things.”
Hertzog knows there is no fantasy land where a wage increase for staff isn’t passed onto customers but, stresses labour costs aren’t the only factor in the prices on store shelves. Hertzog points to the rise in the cost of butter as one of several key cost drivers that businesses with which businesses are having to grapple.
“I do believe that we will see price increases but, it’s not all going to be because of people getting a living wage,” said Hertzog.
While the minimum wage increase hasn’t kept up with the rise in the living wage, Hertzog has already passed on that raise to staff.
“My staff is great,” Hertzog said. “They’re worth it.”
CTV News reached out to the Greater Kitchener Waterloo and Cambridge Chambers of Commerce but, both groups were unable to comment as of publishing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.