26 ~ North Shore News —

Wednesday, November 24, 1999

Cut

Mark Startup

Contributing Columnist

HERE has been
some discussion
recently of increasing
B.C.’s minimum wage.

Foe instance, a recent
report by the Centre for
Policy Alternatives suggest-
ed that the minimum wage
should be increased to $8
from $7.15.

Far from helping those
most in need, thi 2
would be a job-killer for
those workers who need >
acquire work experience and
skills co move up the wage
ladder.

In virtually all economic
studies, minimum wage
increases result in job losses
in the range of 1% to 3% in
sensitive industries and
demographic groups.

The general consensus of
research shows thar job loss-
es would be concentrated in
those industries and bus
nesses that employ a dispro-
portionate share of workers
who are at or near the mini-
mum wage.

In 1995, an Ernst &
Young study noted thet: “In
the current economic eli-
mate, finding aleernat
employment for these typi-
cally low-skill individuais
will prove difficult.”

same holds true
today — unemployment
remains a serious concern in
our province, especially for
young people.

Embarking on a policy

no sense,

B.C.’s independent retail-

ers share the public’s con-

cern with providing more
and better opportunitics to
workers whose carning
power is held back by thei
lack of skills and job experi-
ence.

Rather than taking a ‘one
size fits all? approach, we
would suggest a more tar-
geted strategy so that help
goes to those who need it
the most.

Instead of increasing
costs to small business, the
government should be tak-
ing steps to improve the
overall economy.

As the saying goes, “A
rising tide lifts all boats.”

By making the B.C.
economy more attractive to

investment and job. creation, |

the government will be
treating the real problem
instead of offering up the
same old band-aid solutions.
Independent retailers,
like all small and medium-

that will reduce job oppor- sd businesses, dearly want
tunities for several thousand to see economic leadership
British Columbians makes from the government.

If you're the parent of a new driver, they might
But thanks to a new North Shore business called
“S.PY.D. (Society Protecting Young Drivers).
you can actually monitor how your child is
» driving without spying on them yoursel£.- °
Here's how it works. For a fee ‘of
- $10/month (for 6 or 12 months) you can -
register your vehicle with S.RY,D. You .
will receive a bumper sticker which has
“a PLN. and a'i-800 number on it. (Much | @
like the ones scen on commierciai
vehicles). Once your vehicle has been’
“SPYD” being driven carelessly, a. caller
can then plone the toll free. nuraber and.
report the PLN. number,
. | $.PY¥.D. owners Tom Williamson or Lisa =
Johnson will then pass the information to
the parent, who will decide appropriate
action. All. information . is strictly =
confidential.
Due to. the design of. the decal, it's .
impoceibie to ‘semove the sticker and”
reattach it lates, or alter it without it being ©
obvious. And the PLN. is reflective, so.
unsafe driving can be reported at any time. -
S.PY¥.D. service is highly recommended for
use during and after the Intermediate
Stage of 1L.C.B.C’s Graduated Licensing Progra, when an
_adult is no longer required to be in the vehicle.
‘Tom and Lisa plan to be operating province wide by this .
time next-year, though the toll free number is cuzentiy
operating Canada wide, :

Eight 3 vears of high tay
out-of-control spending and
over-regulation have hurt all
workers in the prov
especially those looking for
work experience.

One way to boast the
take-home | pay of workers
without raising the wage
costs of employers is
through tax cuts.

The Retail Merchants’
Association of BC has long
advocated that governments
should be spending wiser,
taking less of our income
and leaving people with
more of their own money to
spend

her provinces are lead-
ing the way in making sig-
nificant tax curs and their
economies are growing and
jobs are being created at an
amazing rate.

The B.C. government
can also play a part in boost-
ing, workers’ incomes by
calling on the federal finance
minister to make further
cuts to Employment
Insurance (EI) premiums.

An EI rate cut for both
employees and employers *
would leave workers with
more money to spend and
allow small businesses to -re- -
invest and hire new workers.

— Mark Startup is the
president and CEO of the
Retail Merchants’ Asociation::
of B.C. The organization: is
the voice of B.C.-cwned and
operated © retailers, B.C.’s:
retail sector is a safor cor
tributor to the BC econamy,
generating ‘annual. revenues.
of over. $33 billion and over
200,000 jot. a

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