Public Opinion On Increasing BC's Minimum Wage September 2000

Women, Young People, and Low-Income British Columbians Give Strongest Support to Minimum Wage Increase

Vancouver, BC - An early September 2000 Angus Reid Group survey in British Columbia shows the BC public giving very strong support to a recent decision by the provincial government to increase the province's minimum wage from $7.15 to $7.60, making it one of the highest in the country. Not only are British Columbians behind the idea of raising the minimum wage, they also believe the increase will benefit low-income workers and young people, the very individuals who very often receive and live off of the minimum wage. Further, the BC public feels a higher minimum wage will have a positive impact on BC's economy. There is, however, general agreement in the population that small businesses could be hurt by the increase.

"British Columbians are clearly saying they're prepared to accept an increase in the provincial minimum wage as a way to help those who often work in jobs that provide only minimum wage opportunities," observes Daniel Savas, Senior Vice-President, in the Angus Reid Group's Vancouver office. "While they admit there is a potentially negative impact on small businesses in the province, British Columbians seem prepared to let these businesses shoulder the burden. The hope, it seems, is that BC's overall economic picture will benefit as low income workers earn and contribute more to the economy." Support for the increase in the minimum wage is strongest among women, young people (18-34), and lower income British Columbians. Older (55+) and higher income British Columbians are those most likely to oppose the increase. While there is majority support across all party lines, provincial New Democrats tend to be stronger in their backing of the increase than Liberals or BC Reformers. "With such broad support in the population, however, it's unlikely the minimum wage increase will become an issue among British Columbians as the province moves towards an election," comments Mr. Savas.

BC Public Gives Strong Support to Increasing Provincial Minimum Wage

A solid majority of the BC population - 76 percent - say they are in favour of the recent increase in the provincial minimum wage, from $7.15/hour to $7.60/hour. This includes 50 percent who are strongly in favour. By comparison, only one-in-five British Columbians expressed opposition to the increase.

Support for the increase in minimum wage is solid across all regions of the province, and among all population groups. While support is very similar in the different corners of the province, however, we find certain population segments lend stronger support than others to the increase. For example, more women (83%) than men (70%) back the government's decision to raise the minimum wage. Also, more young and middle-aged British Columbians (79%) support the increase than those 55 years of age or more (69%). Similarly, individuals living in lower income households (i.e. less than $30,000 annual household income) are more likely to support the hike in minimum wage than those whose household income is above $60,000 (86% vs. 71%).

Politically, supporters of all provincial parties back the increase in the minimum wage. Provincial NDP supporters are more enthusiastic backers (90%) than BC Reformers (80%), or Liberals (64%), however.

Vast Majority of British Columbians See Increase in Minimum Wage as "Good" for Low-Income Workers, Young People, and BC Economy; View it as "Bad" for Small Businesses in the Province

More than eight-in-ten British Columbians believe the increase in the province's minimum wage is "good" for low-income worker (87%) and young people in BC (85%). A solid majority of 62 percent of the population feels this increase will also benefit BC's economy as a whole. Six-in-ten state, however, that increasing the minimum wage is "bad" for small businesses in the province.

Views on the benefits or drawbacks of increasing the minimum wage do tend to vary according to who is giving the opinion and, to a certain degree, who stands to benefit from the increase. For example, younger British Columbians (18-34) are more likely than those 55 years of age or more to believe that the minimum wage increase is "good" for low income workers (92% vs. 78%), and for young people in the province (90% vs. 70%).

Also, lower income British Columbians (less than $30,000 household income) are more likely than those better off to say this increase in the minimum wage is "good" for the BC economy (76% vs. 55%). A full 43 percent of people living in higher income households believe increasing the minimum wage is "bad" for BC's overall economic picture.

Among those most likely to see the minimum wage increase as being "bad" for small businesses in BC is one group in the population: higher income British Columbians (70% vs. 59% for middle-income, and 42% for lower income).

Politically, a majority of supporters from all parties believe the minimum wage increase is "good" for low-income workers and young people. This is particularly true of New Democrats: 98 percent believe the increase is good for low income British Columbians (compared to 88% of BC Reformers, and 78% of Liberals); and 99 percent feel it is a good thing for young people in the province (compared to 89% of BC Reformers, and 76% of Liberals).

When it comes to the impact of the minimum wage increase on the BC economy and small businesses in the province, there are some more significant differences between provincial party supporters. For example, while a strong majority of NDP (83%) and BC Reform (62%) supporters say the increase is a good thing for the BC economy, only 46 percent of BC Liberals feel the same way (52% think it is bad for the economy). Similarly, whereas 58 percent of New Democrats believe increasing the minimum wage is a positive thing for small businesses, far fewer BC Reformers (33%) or Liberals (26%) share the same view.

This BC Angus Reid Group poll is based on a provincial telephone survey conducted between September 5th and September 11th, 2000 among a representative cross-section of 600 British Columbian adults. These data are statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age and sex composition reflects that of the actual BC according to 1996 Census data.

With a provincial sample of 600, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +4.0 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult BC population been polled. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Daniel Savas
Senior Vice President
Angus Reid Group
(604) 257-3200