Premier Scott Moe during question period stated the minimum wage will be be rising soon, using a “market-based adjustment” that would be “above and beyond” the formula currently used..Moe’s statement was in response to the NDP’s proposed $250 million windfall energy surtax..Moe said in question period that he did not like the NDP’s proposal..“Here’s what we won’t do. We won’t be increasing the taxes on those wealth-generating industries in our province, those industries that are employing people, providing jobs for Saskatchewan people,” said Moe..After shutting down the NDP’s energy surtax, Moe explained how the Saskatchewan government plans to help people during this rapid rise in inflation by raising the minimum wage..“There are other opportunities for us to support Saskatchewan people, Mr. Speaker, and Saskatchewan families. And that’s why this government ... is looking, Mr. Speaker, at what opportunities we may have for a market-based adjustment to our minimum wage here in the province,” said Moe..“That market-based adjustment would go above and beyond the formula that we have. This is under active consideration today, Mr. Speaker, and this is a way that the government can work with our employers across the province to support Saskatchewan families, in particular those low-income Saskatchewan families.”.Jennifer Bowes, NDP Labour critic, brought up the Saskatchewan Party quickly increased the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) salaries because of inflation, but still have done nothing to help the average resident..“We see that reflected in our minimum wage, Mr. Speaker, the lowest minimum wage in all of Canada, a poverty wage. While Saskatchewan’s minimum wage is calculated in such a way that means it does not even match the rising costs of inflation, we as MLAs just received a 2.6% increase, Mr. Speaker, which is tied directly to inflation,” said Bowes..“Good enough for us, Mr. Speaker, but apparently not for the lowest-paid workers in our province. We get paid the fourth-highest MLA salary in the country while the people we serve are shafted with the lowest minimum wage in Canada. Doesn’t that just about tell you everything you need to know, Mr. Speaker?”.“This government simply has no respect for the affordability crisis that ordinary people in Saskatchewan are facing. They are completely out of touch.”.During the media scrum, Moe was asked about what the increase would look like, just up 10 cents or up a dollar or more?.“We are talking with stakeholders and it will be substantial,” said Moe..Reporters pressed Moe about the increase, but he would not explain what he meant by “substantial.”.Nicole Sarauer, NDP deputy leader, contacted the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) and they were not consulted on the minimum wage..“It’s the first stakeholders are hearing about it, is what I understand. We just spoke with the SFL and they haven’t been consulted on it,” said Sarauer..Sarauer criticized Moe for throwing up “trial balloons” instead of doing something..“Classic move by the premier to lob up trial balloons to see what sort of reaction or channel change that he can get for the day,” said Sarauer..The Saskatchewan government is expected to make a minimum wage increase announcement later this week..Chris Oldcorn is a Western Standard Reporter based in Regina.coldcorn@westernstandard.news.Twitter: @chrisoldcorn.Parler: @chrisoldcorn
