Liberals leaving workers behind

Halifax -- According to a report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Nova Scotia is lagging behind other jurisdictions when it comes to labour standards. Labour standards legislation sets out the minimum working conditions for non-unionized employees.

Minimum wage workers in Nova Scotia are also among the lowest paid in the country.

"We can't expect our economy to be competitive when our labour standards are among the weakest in Canada," said NDP leader Gary Burrill. "Whether it be sick days, vacation, or the minimum wage, people in Nova Scotia deserve labour standards as good as elsewhere in the country."

Among the report's recommendations are raising the minimum wage to at least $15 and introducing paid sick days for all workers, both proposals for which the NDP has introduced legislation.

"If it was not already apparent that workers are suffering in Nova Scotia, this report should serve as a wake-up call to the Liberals," said NDP Labour spokesperson Tammy Martin. "By trampling on workers' rights and refusing to raise the minimum wage to $15, McNeil is taking our province in exactly the wrong direction."

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