Ontario PCs promise to slow $15 minimum wage increase

The Progressive Conservatives announced apolicy promise on Tuesday, revealing that they willslow down the implementation of the $15 minimum wage increase.

If elected in 2018, the Torieswill increase the minimum wage by 25 cents everyyear until 2022, when it would reach $15, said PC MPPJohn Yakabuski.

"We think it's the responsible thing to do," he said. "We recognize that there is a need to raise wages here in the province of Ontario because it's this government that has driven up the cost of living for those very people."

• Tax cuts signalled for small businesses in Ontario, with minimum wage rising

• Businesses warn jobs will be lost over Ontario's $15 minimum wage

Kathleen Wynne'sgovernment is slated to raisethe minimum wage in Ontario to $14 an hour as of Jan. 1 2018withplans to increase it to $15 an hour in 2019.

The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario has warned that 50,000 jobs could be lost with a wage hike and businesses have said theincrease in employee costs could potentially lead to prices going up, as well as job cuts.

Labour Minister Kevin Flynn issued a statement disapproving ofthe Tory minimum wage plan.

"Our plan to phase in a $15 minimum wage over 18 months ensures more workers are benefiting from Ontario's economic growth," Flynn said.

PCs 'out of touch,' Horwath says

While the Tories argue that the Wynne'srapid wage hike will makeeverything more expensiveincluding gas, Ontario's NDPleader Andrea Horwath said she's surprisedby the Progressive Conservativeplan.

"They like to talk a good game, but I'll tell you this: I was shocked to hear that they're happy to have workers continue to earn wages that won't even pay the rent and put food on the table,"Horwath said.

"We are in favour of a minimum wage increase, we have been for a long time but the fact that the Conservatives are saying people have to wait another four years before $15 minimum wage is in place in Ontario shows how utterly out of touch that party is."