The Ontarion asks Gryphons
Nicole Iarusci
Second year, Animal Biology
There are some pros and cons to changing the minimum wage, but I feel that for entry level jobs, it is acceptable. Since it’s been increased, there have been some conflicts with certain companies such as Tim Horton’s since increasing the wage would be such a big expense for them. But I think it’s acceptable right now, I’m happy with it. I don’t necessarily think it should increase.
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Cassidy Obarren
First year, Sociology
I personally disagree with [the idea of increased minimum wage] because I have friends working full time in London right now and their hours have been cut back because of minimum wage going up. [The minimum wage increase] focuses on people who are supposed to be living off of it, instead of kids trying to make money off of it. Because their hours are being cut, they’re not making as much as they used to make.
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Sydney Szypula
First year, Criminal Justice and Public Policy
The fact that people are going to be paid more money is fine, but the issue is living costs go up as well and costs of general items even in grocery stores will be going up. So even though people will be getting paid more money, it’s not really benefiting anyone because of the fact that things are going up as well. So I think it’s a negative thing.
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Faith Ferrato
First year, Zoology
I don’t think it’s a good thing because people that are part of small businesses — a lot of them are getting laid off — and when minimum wage increases, that means that living costs are going to increase and when everything goes up, it’s not really helpful at all. Sure, minimum wage is going up, but if everything else is going up and it’s affecting a lot of people’s hours and some are just getting fired and laid off because small businesses can’t keep people employed now, it’s not going to be a good thing.
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Dustin Javier
First year, Engineering
The idea of the minimum wage is a good thing because people get more money. Well from my friends’ experience, since I don’t work, they have been getting less hours, so it kind of balances out with how much they were getting before. One of my friends told me he was getting 25 hours and then after the minimum wage [increase] he was getting like 8-10 hours a week. Most companies cut the number of hours because of the minimum wage.
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Jacob Highgate
Second year, Mechanical Engineering
Well it has pros and cons. It lifts workers up above the poverty line a bit. But at the same time, if it’s not offset then it can cost businesses more at the same time. So there has to be a bit of a balance so that there’s not too much of the negative effects either way. For small businesses, it would be taxes. I know some have been fishing for lower taxes. Even though there’s a bit of a tax relief — I think it was 0.25 per cent — it’s still not enough for some because with minimum wage going up they’ll end up paying more. But it is good since expenses rise either way.
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Image by Alora Griffiths/The Ontarion