The push to instill a federal $15 minimum wage continues, as many feel the pressure of a declining Canadian dollar and the ever-shrinking middle class. With multiple studies, showing comparable incomes with those who worked for minimum wage in 1975, it is of no surprise that the requests are being made. Not only would the increase in wage benefit those who work for the federal government, but it would also mean the restoring of federal leadership in wage setting, with the majority believing the provinces would follow suit. The talks of a raised minimum wage in Canada come at a time when discussions over campaigns in the United States mirror our own. With the likes of Bernie Sanders promising a US$15 minimum wage, if it came to fruition, could it mean a positive or ineffective method for economic growth?
Volkswagen AG saw their steepest drop in there share prices in at least seven years, after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that the automaker had intentionally rigged its cars to pass emissions tests. The CEO of Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn, gave an apology over the weekend, following the EPA’s order that 500,000 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles in the U.S. be recalled due to software that kicks in emissions regulation systems in cars – but only when the car is being tested for emissions. Though the apology seemed heart-felt, investors are not impressed with Winterkorn or with Volkswagen for that matter – and it shows. Investors sent shares down 23 per cent, a C$23 billion value off the market for Volkswagen. The EPA recall affects Audi A3, VW Jetta, Beetle, Golf, and Passat models build over the past seven years.
With the recent past depicting the struggles of the Greeks, and the continuous downturn of the economy, bartering is gaining traction. This is just one of the many signs that have been causing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who was re-elected Sunday, some worry. Graphic artists are exchanging designs for olive oil. Accountants swap advice for office supplies. In the agricultural heartland and on the Greek islands, informal bartering, which has historically helped communities survive, has intensified as more people exchange fruits, vegetables, and other crops, as well as equipment, clothing, and services. The increase in bartering can be attributed to the lack of available currency and the loss of purchasing power following the debt crisis. Though the concept is helping many cope with the need for goods and services, the government is worried that this will contribute even more to the economic austerity.
McDonald’s has brought together a number of like-minded organizations to raise money to assist the United Nations’ food program respond to the migrant crisis in Europe and the Middle East. McDonald’s, along with DreamWorks Animation, MasterCard, and Facebook, will donate paid television airtime or access to digital media to promote the World Food Program. Through the use of a 30-second animated commercial narrated by actor Liam Neeson, McDonald’s hopes to convey the drastic need for funds and support needed to help those who have been displaced from their homes. The World Food Program unveiled the partnership on Sunday, one day before the United Nations’ annual International Day of Peace.
About
The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.