MEDIA ADVISORY: Diverse Community Delegation of Faith Leaders, Health Providers, Labour Leaders and Many Others to Present Giant 40 Foot Petition for $14 Minimum Wage

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 18, 2014) - On June 18^th, a large community delegation of faith leaders, health professionals, teachers, students, labour and community representatives will present a giant 40 foot petition with thousands of petition signatures from across Ontario and call Premier Kathleen Wynne and the new Minister of Labour to support a $14 minimum wage.

"Nurses see the toll that poverty has on people's health. That's why we are calling on the new government to help workers struggling to make ends meet by committing to a more livable minimum wage of $14/hour," says Doris Grinspun, of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)."

"It is an offense against human dignity when people can work full-time year round yet still live in poverty," says Maggie Helwig from the Anglican Church of Canada. "As communities of faith, we expect Kathleen Wynne to fulfill her promise to create good jobs and leave no one behind by raising the minimum wage to $14."

The current minimum wage of $11 leaves full-time minimum wage earners more than 16% below the poverty line. The new Minister of Labour is expected to be announced by Kathleen Wynne before July 2 when the Ontario legislature will be recalled.

For more information on the Campaign, visit: www.raisetheminimumwage.ca.

Follow the campaign Twitter account @fairwagesnow and hashtag #14now.

The Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage is coordinated by ACORN, Freedom 90, Mennonite New Life Centre, OCAP, Ontario Campaign 2000, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Peel Regional Labour Council, Put Food in the Budget, Social Planning Toronto, Toronto and York Region Labour Council, Unifor and Workers' Action Centre.