$15 minimum wage would help women climb out poverty, Quebec activists say

A coalition calling for a $15 hourly minimum wage in Quebec is turning its focus toward female cabinet ministers, arguing a raise would help women climb out of poverty.

The group, which is made up of unions and anti-poverty groupsand known as 5-10-15, is holding protests today outside the ministers'offices.

Women are overrepresented in low-paying jobs and would benefit from the increase, the group said in a statement.

"It's not fair," saidMlanie Gauvin, one of theprotesters.

About a dozen protesters held a rally outside Lionel-Groulx Metro station Monday morning, holding signs and handing out pamphlets.

Thegroup then met withEconomy Minister DominiqueAngladeat her constituency office.

"They received us well. They told us they would take into considerationall the points we brought up," Gauvin said.

Support for $15 minimum wage growing

Quebec's current minimum wage is $10.75 it was raised by20 cents this spring. But Finance MinisterCarlos Leitaohas dismissed the idea of raising the province's minimum wage to $15 an hour in the near future.

Other jurisdictions, though, have proven more receptive to the idea.

The U.S. states of New York and California have approved measuresto gradually implement a $15 minimum wage.

• New York, California make eventual $15 minimum wage official

Labour unions and anti-poverty activists across the country havelong been calling for a higher minimum wage as a way to reduceinequality and help lower-earning Canadians.

Alberta will move its minimum wage to $15 by 2018, while Ontariojust increased its minimum for the third consecutive year and isconsidering whether to provide a guaranteed minimum income ano-strings benefit that could replace various targeted socialbenefits.

• Why the minimum wage 'Fight for $15' may be the wrong battle

Rallies to urge the government to raise the minimum wage havebeen held in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver.

Business and industry groups have opposed the idea, saying itwould have a negative impact on jobs and hurt the very workers it isdesigned to protect.