Discussions

The higher wages are, the higher costs of production are. The higher costs of production are, the higher prices are. The higher prices are, the smaller the quantities of goods and services demanded and the number of workers employed in producing them  
The net effect of higher minimum wages would be unfavorable for impoverished households, even if there are no job losses. To the extent that some poor households also lose jobs, their net losses would be greater.  
If the minimum wage is increased, fast-food restaurants would pass on almost 100% of their increased labor costs on to consumers and that other firms may do the same.

My mother and sister worked as employees in an ice cream fast food business in the late seventies and early eighties. While they worked there I saw how much the business grossed, and also found out the mark up on food products. Even at that time we always heard how much increases in minimum wage would affect business, but it didn't take much figuring to realize how small of an increase in prices was needed to cover the increase in wages. A business that is properly staffed, and well managed does not have to raise prices much to cover increased wages even in today's world.  
The United States mandated an increase in minimum wages last year amid warnings of job losses, and yet these job losses never materialized and the economy as well as job creation continued.  
If a person does a bit of looking at statistics, it sort has been proven that increases in minimum wages end up giving economies a boost, stagnation in wage growth or disposable income usually hurts most economies given the fact that inflation reduces the purchasing power of the population.  
I know I have mentioned this before but I believe it is worth mentioning again. Fiscal policy in the United States seems to lie in the hands of the Federal Reserve, and it was the federal reserve that pushed the federal government to increase the minimum wage in their country. I won't say that I agree with everything the Federal Reserve decides is right, or even the timing of some of their decisions, but they have steered the economy of that country through some perilous times, so the decision to push for an increase in minimum wage was done for some reason.

don brown said "My mother and sister worked as employees in an ice cream fast food business in the late seventies and early eighties. While they worked there I saw how much the business grossed, and also found out the mark up on food products. Even at that time we always heard how much increases in minimum wage would affect business, but it didn't take much figuring to realize how small of an increase in prices was needed to cover the increase in wages. A business that is properly staffed, and well managed does not have to raise prices much to cover increased wages even in today's world.   The United States mandated an increase in minimum wages last year amid warnings of job losses, and yet these job losses never materialized and the economy as well as job creation continued.   If a person does a bit of looking at statistics, it sort has been proven that increases in minimum wages end up giving economies a boost, stagnation in wage growth or disposable income usually hurts most economies given the fact that inflation reduces the purchasing power of the population.   I know I have mentioned this before but I believe it is worth mentioning again. Fiscal policy in the United States seems to lie in the hands of the Federal Reserve, and it was the federal reserve that pushed the federal government to increase the minimum wage in their country. I won't say that I agree with everything the Federal Reserve decides is right, or even the timing of some of their decisions, but they have steered the economy of that country through some perilous times, so the decision to push for an increase in minimum wage was done for some reason. "

Agreed, regardless as has been proven on a regular basis the quantity of the products is reducing while the cost either stays or raises with the lesser amount of products. If I'm only making enough to pay the rising costs of all utilities, rent/mortgage I can't really add to the economy other than to buy what I can to get by. If I made more I'd spend more it's pretty simplistic.

If Manitoba would raise its personal tax exemption to match the rest of the provinces i thinkk that would help keep more money in people's pockets without the need to raise the minimum wage.  
 
http://www.onpayroll.ca/federal-and-provincial-td1-basic-exemptions

It's nice to get a increase but if the money comes from the taxpayer (whatever level of government) then we suffer because we have to pay more in taxes. Therefore less cash in our pockets.  
 
I'm hoping that the Pallister government doesn't give themselves a raise (apparently reviewing) when there is a possibility that there might be a wage freeze for provincial workers, whether the workers be doctors, nurses or housekeeping staff.

If min wage goes up again then everyones wages should increase... I have busted my butt scrimped n saved to get an education here. Brandon is not a place of opportunity and many wages are low.. Its just upsetting to have went through all of that to be making a couple bucks n hr more then the guy flipping burgers down the street.

If min wage goes up again then everyones wages should increase... I have busted my butt scrimped n saved to get an education here. Brandon is not a place of opportunity and many wages are low.. Its just upsetting to have went through all of that to be making a couple bucks n hr more then the guy flipping burgers down the street.

This talk was at the coffee shop a couple of days ago, are you only worried about min wage and gov employees, or are you talking about your wage too.

I certainly would not want to have to set minimum wages. One of the numbers used in the United States to help set a new minimum wage was that minimum wage should be 60% of the median wage, and because it was being done on a national level it created a picture that was representative of a nation, and did not take into account things at a regional level. When the new minimum wage was announce many states had minimum wages that were at a higher level because of regional factors, there were places in the states that go as high as 75% of median wage, those areas are usually areas where property, housing and rental rates were very high, which in my opinion is sort of reflective of the Brandon market.  
Haven't really done to much research on whether increases in minimum wages, as a percent, have caused increases of other wages at a similar rate as a percent.

Nollie said "The higher wages are, the higher costs of production are. The higher costs of production are, the higher prices are. The higher prices are, the smaller the quantities of goods and services demanded and the number of workers employed in producing them   The net effect of higher minimum wages would be unfavorable for impoverished households, even if there are no job losses. To the extent that some poor households also lose jobs, their net losses would be greater.   If the minimum wage is increased, fast-food restaurants would pass on almost 100% of their increased labor costs on to consumers and that other firms may do the same. "

Sorry but you're taking too simple a view of supply and demand. You also have to consider income elasticity. If your income goes up, you are willing to buy more of things (very generally). Higher prices reduce demand at a given level of income. To paraphrase Barenaked Ladies, if I had a million dollars, I'd still eat Kraft Dinner. I'd just eat more.  
 
As long as there is inflation, the only way to keep demand steady is for incomes to increase. Setting reasonable increases to minimum wage is one way to ensure this happens. Really, if wages don't keep up at least somewhat with increasing prices (minimum wages as well as all wages), then we're all collectively not going to be able to keep buying everything our economy produces. This leads to much bigger crisis than the small increase in costs that arise from a change in minimum wage.  
 
The more important discussion that could take place is whether minimum wage should be set around the concept of a living wage. For example, if someone works full time full year at minimum wage, they still earn an income below the poverty level. This isn't right. Why should a job pay so poorly that someone who does it full time cannot live above the level of poverty? Surely 'work' - no matter how unskilled - should still be 'worth' something. If the job exists, it's because it needs someone to do it.

A raise in minimum wage is not entirely absorbed by the "ice cream shop" owner. Every product used in that shop from the cones to the bowls to the toppings pass through some hands of minimum wage workers. If every supplier adds a small increase to cover their higher labor rates, the ice cream owner not only has to rise in labor costs but also an increase in supplies. Thus the cost of ice cream must go up affecting us all. The increase in price generates more taxes collected, so really the only one that wins is the government. If they want to put more money in the hands of the low income workers it has to come from the personal exemptions. If it's not coming from the government, it's just moving money around in the current economy and generating more revenue for the government.

By that logic, the only one that wins is the government whenever any wages go up, for any reason - minimum wage or otherwise. And I seriously doubt that when minimum wage goes up, those earning it wouldn't feel they've benefited. After all, they still live below the poverty level, so take maximum benefit from personal exemptions even at their new 'higher' wage. The mantra of 'keeping more money in your pockets' only means anything if you earn enough for that to make a difference. When you live below the poverty level, the difference is actually trivial in comparison to a higher wage.

Those that complain about increases to minimum wage should be willing to demonstrate that they would be comfortable with it the way it is. So, take a year and live on minimum wage, with no additional funds or rebates. Then tell us how it is just fine the way it is.  
 
Probably the best solution is a combination of minimum wage and basic personal examption increases. If the basic exemption was set at about $24000, then minimum wage earners would not pay tax, resulting in greater disposable income. Tax rates could then be adjusted on a sliding scale so that this measure could remain revenue neutral. Complicated ? Yes. Achieveable ? Yes.

all I can say is with too many people the more money they receive the more they will spend that extra money.  
A person once had told me that school should have a course on how to manage their money and I think he is right, so many do not know how and they will be in a hole pretty much all their life no matter how many program you offer.  
Employers: how many employees do you have that spend all their paycheque every time. Increase their wage and still have no pennies at the end of the tunnel.