(Montreal) The idea of ​​a minimum hourly wage of $20 raised by Québec solidaire (QS) during its conference last weekend is greeted with disapproval by a group of some 97,000 small and medium-sized Canadian businesses.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has calculated that assuming the number of hours worked at minimum wage is similar to 2022, such an increase would imply additional direct costs of $1.09 billion for employers Quebecois.

The CFIB asserts that such an increase, estimated at 31%, would considerably harm small businesses in Quebec and would put a lot of pressure on the increase in consumer prices. François Vincent, vice-president for Quebec at the CFIB, specifies that such a salary increase would involve direct additional costs of $11,373 for an employer hiring a single person at full-time minimum wage.

In the current context of sharp increases in costs which disadvantage small businesses, the CFIB reiterates its request that tax measures be adopted to directly support workers, such as an increase in the basic personal amount, work bonuses or employment credits. targeted taxes.

During its congress held in Gatineau, Québec solidaire said it wanted to propose a cure-all to deal with current economic difficulties, including increasing the minimum wage from the current rate of $15.25 to $20 per hour.

QS delegates also voted in favor of creating a school feeding program in all primary and secondary schools, and in favor of capping the profit margins of large grocery chains.

QS also wants to remove the Quebec tax (QST) on used products and repair services.