A Media Release from the Greater Niagara (Ontario) Chamber Of Commerce
Niagara, Ontario, November 1st, 2013 – The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce has announced its support of tying future increases of Ontario’s minimum wage to an economic indicator. The proposed approach aims to effectively depoliticize the minimum wage setting process and it represents a more predictable mechanism for any potential increases moving forward.
Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce CEO Water Sendzik
“The current method of determining the minimum wage is more harmful for economic growth and development,” explains Walter Sendzik, CEO of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. “Developing a more predictable and stable framework for this process will enable businesses to better plan for rising labour costs without political interference.”
Currently, Ontario’s minimum wage is set in an unclear and inconsistent way. Over the past two decades, the approach to minimum wage has been lengthy freezes followed by sudden and substantial increases. This approach results in sharp increases to labour costs over a short timeframe resulting in negative consequences for employment and economic growth. The proposed approach supported by the Greater Niagara Chamber is to peg minimum wage increases to an economic indicator that measures inflation, such as the Consumer Price Index.
“How minimum wage is set in Ontario is of particular importance to Niagara’s economy,” states Kithio Mwanzia, Directory of Policy & Government Relations for Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. “Niagara has a number of sectors that include employment opportunities within the range of minimum wage, including retail, tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors, and any sudden spikes in the minimum wage ripples through each sector causing a reduction in employment. These sectors account for more than 35 per cent of Niagara’s economy and account for over 55,000 jobs.”
As part of its ongoing advocacy work on the minimum wage debate, the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce was involved in the consultation process for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s formal submission to the Ministry of Labour’s Minimum Wage Advisory Panel last month. The Chamber also represented Niagara’s business community at one of the province’s minimum wage review regional consultations on November 1 in Guelph by presenting its position to the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel and submitting a formal brief.
The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the champion for the Niagara business community. With over 1,450 members representing more than 35,000 employees, it is the largest business organization in Niagara, and one of the largest chambers of commerce in Ontario.
Representing the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce at the Minimum Wage Regional Consultation were Walter Sendzik, CEO and Kithio Mwanzia, Director of Policy & Government Relations
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)
Niagara At Large 
Walter you and Kithio represent the business community and of course you support a stable minimum wage whereas many people, women in particular have been subjected to a wage far below the minimum wage with the supposed tips being the equalizer. When I go into a dining establishment my tip range from 10 to 20% depending on the quality of service…But that is NOT TRULY A GIVEN as many people are too stingy to give a penny.. thus the server suffers to indignity of a very low take home pay. I imagine you and kithio do not have to worry about getting tips to supplement your income and you would have absolutely no concern whether that employee made enough to pay their rent and/or fed their children…as long as you fulfill your obligation to the business community Am I correct????
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