Dear Mr. Ford—we understand: You’re having a hard time in office, but good thing you have intelligent students to stir you in the right direction. So allow me to communicate something to you, loud and clear.
It’s just a freaking dollar, but before you go on a tangent, let me explain myself.
Mr. Ford, allow me to remind you that on Jan. 1, the Kathleen Wynne government put a plan in place for minimum wage to be increased to $14 an hour, and to improve workplace conditions for those employed. The legislation was known as Bill 148.
Thank God, because my broke ass needed some cash for second-year. In fact, another minimum wage increase was intended to take place on January 1, 2019, increasing the minimum wage in Ontario to $15 an hour. Crazy, ain’t it?
But lo and behold, we get screwed over again by your government—in particular, you. Choosing to scrap the $15 an hour minimum wage increase come Jan. 1 raises a lot of questions.
First of all, Mr. Ford, I understand—it’s a whole dollar. However, we need to realize that adjustments are being made to the $14 an hour hike, which makes it possible for us to increase it to $15.
An article published in the Financial Post on Sept. 14 explains why the minimum wage change was coming into effect. In the article, Laurie Scott, the Minister of Labour, called the minimum wage increase a “burden” for businesses.
The more I think about it, the more illogical it gets. Don’t get me wrong—change isn’t easy. It’s like moving to a new city, or adjusting to life after secondary school. It can be hard for some people.
But listen, if Kathleen Wynne can raise a wage from $11.40 to $14 dollars an hour, there has to be the possibility that this wage increase can work. Do you not want to be better than Wynne in every possible way? Talkin’ ‘bout a “burden”? Oh please, if anything a wage increase will not only attract people to work, but lower poverty, and provide greater equity, which in turn will help your dumbass government.
Take Germany as an example. Although the minimum wage there is approximately $10 an hour, tuition fees and student loan rates are incredibly low. Students there don’t make much, so they don’t pay as much.
All the change I’ve seen was with the sex ed curriculum repeal and the buck-a-beer—some next foolishness.
My dude, cater to the people of Ontario for once, please, because at the end of the day, the younger generation is beginning to rise and take over all of this nonsense. What the hell happened to you being “for the people?”
I have a dream that one day, I will have money to not only spend on your university institutions, but on myself and my family—because it’s about damn time that we take a long break from civilization and the rules that govern us.
I have a dream that a politician in every level of government will actually stand for what’s right for people, and not mimic Donald Trump’s “I am a hero” antic. I have a dream that one day the price will be right once the words “minimum wage” are spoken in your ears.
All in all, Mr. Ford, we just want what is ours. Enough excuses, and enough compromising.
I pray that one day you’ll open your eyes and realize that you need to shape up—and the next time I see you in front of a podium, that is what I want to hear.
