ACA reiterated its longstanding opposition to federal fair wages legislation in a July 13 meeting with federal Labor Minister Lisa Raitt. The Act, introduced in 1935 during the Depression was intended to regulate wage rates and hours of work, and provide mechanisms in resolving complaints of underpayment or non-payment of wages. ACA expressed to the Minister that the Fair Wage and Hours of Labour Act is unnecessary and redundant, and should accordingly be repealed.
ACA believes that the marketplace should determine wages and that wage schedules cannot be relied upon to be truly reflective of that marketplace. Furthermore, it is our understanding that there have been virtually no complaints related to wage rates under the Act. ACA questions why the Canadian government is spending taxpayer’s money to continue this program.
