Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of presenting two petitions today.
The first is signed by 105 people and concerns the re-establishment of a federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage was eliminated by the Liberal government in 1996. A $10 an hour minimum wage just approaches the poverty level for a single worker and would mean a great deal for so many low income workers across the country.
A federal minimum wage would of course establish a benchmark for working people in provincial jurisdictions as well, right across the country. That is what happened when it originally was introduced back in 1965. I am pleased to present this petition calling for the reinstatement of a federal minimum wage at $10 an hour, which is also asked for in my private member's bill.