Kevin Royal responds to Derek Takahashi

Derek, I wanted to give you some thoughts on trying to implement a $10 minimum wage across Canada, and a broad-based Tuition reduction.

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• Takahashi

[northernlightsmk]

Good economic arguments Kevin. "The best way to combat poverty is by education..." - well said.

[derektakahashica]

First of all, thank you for providing your insight into these issues. On the issue of lowering tuition rates my idea would maintain all other allocated funding for postsecondary institutions and add funding that would be specifically allocated towards lowering tuition rates; so,

[derektakahashica]

I don't believe this would cause post secondary institutions to hire part-time profs, lowering extra-curricular funding, or lowering the technological support because the same amount of money will be coming in, therefore, there would be no need for these institutions to take any of these measures. The agreement could be made that any of these measures are just as likely to be utilized whether the money is coming into the institutions from the government or from the students.

[derektakahashica]

Now, on the issue of raising the minimum, I believe by making this change it would help re-distribute the wealth in Canada, in an effort to combat poverty, because all citizens would feel the backlash from this change, but only the lower income citizens would have gained any more income from this change in order to pay for this backlash. Thereby, decreasing the gap between upper and lower class citizens.

[stumanti]

I am paying off my debt now, but it's manageable and will be paid off within 5 years. I disagree with lowering tuition because I like to think that the degree I hold means something; relying on government funding means that universities will have to cut corners like hiring part-time profs, lowering extra-curricular funding, and lowering the technological support we rely on

[stumanti]

On the second point, I would have to disagree with both of you. I would classify myself as lower middle class from a financial perspective -- I had limited financial support from my parents to pay for my education, and I lived in student housing all 4 years I attended university. I was able to pay for my education and live a fairly normal social life solely on government loans, summer jobs, and part-time jobs during school -- resources that are available to all students in financial need

[stumanti]

While Derek raises a good point about many of the minimum wage employees working at large national corporations, the truth is that corporations need to make money to keep shareholders satisfied. They also need to make profits to invest money into new innovations that will help Canadians. The most likely result of raising minimum wage will be businesses passing on these rising costs to consumers, increasing inflation, and further decreasing the buying power of low income households.

[stumanti]

I would have to agree with KR on the first point. Raising minimum wage even higher than it is now would create a backlash in the economy, and have a devastating effect on low income families, while having close to no effect on higher income families. This would create an even more pronounced rich/poor divide.

[stumanti]

I would have to agree with KR on the first point. Raising minimum wage even higher than it is now would create a backlash in the economy, and have a devastating effect on low income families, while having close to no effect on higher income families. This would create an even more pronounced rich/poor divide.

[stumanti]

I would have to agree with KR on the first point. Raising minimum wage even higher than it is now would create a backlash in the economy, and have a devastating effect on low income families, while having close to no effect on higher income families. This would create an even more pronounced rich/poor divide.