Environment and Conservation
August 3, 2012

The following is being distributed at the request of the Labour Relations Agency:

Input Sought on Provincial Minimum Wage

The Provincial Government is committed to providing individuals and stakeholders with a meaningful opportunity for input into the latest minimum wage review for the province and has appointed an advisory committee. Blair Patrick has been appointed committee chair, with Elaine Price and John Peddle serving as employee and employer members. Nominees for the review committee were solicited from the Provincial Government, Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour.

"I am pleased to announce today that we are acting upon another commitment in the 2011 Blue Book and advancing a review of our province’s minimum wage,” said the Honurable Terry French, Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency. “Our government has an impressive record with respect to minimum wage increases, having raised it 67 per cent since 2005.  It is important that as we move forward, factors such as the needs of workers and the employer’s ability to pay are considered.”

The three-member advisory committee will solicit public and stakeholder submissions on the minimum wage until September 15, 2012.  The committee will report back to the Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency with observations and findings by mid fall 2012.

Newfoundland and Labrador has increased its minimum wage from $6 to $10 since 2005, representing a 67 per cent increase.  Four other jurisdictions in Canada currently have a $10 an hour minimum wage – Northwest Territories, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

“Public input is crucial in exercises such as a minimum wage review, and I encourage individuals and groups to make their opinions known,” said Minister French.  “We have provided a number of avenues to facilitate such feedback, and I hope we will receive a considerable response to this effort.”

Individuals or groups who wish to obtain further information on this review and provide their input may call toll-free at 1-877-563-1063, complete an on-line questionnaire at www.gov.nl.ca/lra/min_wage_review_2012/index.html , provide comments via e-mail at minimumwage@gov.nl.ca, or drop off comments in person to either the St. John’s or Corner Brook offices of the Labour Relations Agency. Input can also be provided through mail or fax to the following:

Key questions for consideration regarding feedback on the minimum wage are:

• What are your views regarding changes to the minimum wage?
• What are the issues you think should be considered in making changes to the minimum wage?
• If you see challenges associated with increasing the minimum wage, how could these be addressed?

For information regarding the minimum wage trends over time and the minimum wage rates across Canada, please visit:
www.gov.nl.ca/lra/min_wage_review_2012/minimum_wage_trends_over_time.pdf

www.gov.nl.ca/lra/min_wage_review_2012/minimum_wage_across_canada.pdf

-30-

Media contact:

Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca

Biographical Information

Blair Patrick
Blair Patrick has enjoyed progressively responsible positions in the private sector since 1975, and presently serves as Director of Marketing with Browning Harvey Ltd in St. John’s.  He has extensive community involvement in the City of Mount Pearl as a founding member of the Mount Pearl Winter Carnival and as past director of the Mount Pearl Glacier Arena and Smallwood Arena.  He currently serves as a board member of the VOCM Cares Foundation, the St. John’s International Airport Authority and is a Director with Evergreen Recycling.

Mr. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting) from Memorial University.

Elaine Price
Elaine Price began her career with the Provincial Government as a Youth Specialist in 1974.  In 1989, she joined the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) as an Employee Relations Officer, with responsibility for contract negotiations and grievance arbitration. In 1994, Ms. Price was elected President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, the first woman to ever hold the position.  After nine years of service, Ms. Price returned to NAPE and presently works out of the Grand Falls-Windsor office.

John Peddle
John Peddle spent more than 30 years with the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Boards Association until his retirement as Executive Director in 2008. Since then, Mr. Peddle has provided consulting services to employers on employment relations issues.  Mr. Peddle has extensive experience serving on boards including the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council, the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, the Canadian Healthcare Association, and International Personnel Management Association.

Mr. Peddle graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1971 with a Commerce degree majoring in Industrial and Personnel Relations.

2012 08 03                                      2:25 p.m.