NDP promise to raise minimum wage to $15, before next election

Yukon's New Democratssayif elected, they will raise to minimum wage in the territory to at least $15before the end oftheir first mandate.

They say too many Yukon workers can't make ends meet with the current minimum wage rate.

At $11.07 per hour, Yukon's minimum wage rate is the lowest in the north, and just 57 cents above Newfoundland and Labrador, which is the lowest in Canada. Minimum wage in the N.W.T. is $12.50 per hour, and in Nunavut is $13per hour.

Citingrecent reports that a living wage in Whitehorse is at least $19per hour, NDP leader Liz Hanson said on Monday thatit's time to close the gap.

"That gap means having to choose between rent or food, for some," said Hanson."People living in our communities feel that gap every day, too."

Riverdale South NDP candidate Jan Stick hosted the campaignannouncement ather used bookstore in Whitehorse where she pays her full time staff more than $15 an hour, and part-timers almost the same.

"It's doable," Sticksaid. "It's chilly in here sometimes, but we are still a thriving business, and I have lots of customers coming in and I have staff that are happy to work here."

Hanson promises an NDP government would consult with business on how quickly it couldimplement the wage hike.

"We're at $11.07 now.Nobody can live on that," Hanson said. "We've got to get to $15, so the sooner we can do it, the better."