The Ontario government’s announcement this week to look into repealing Bill 148 came as music to the ears for the Chamber of Commerce in Chatham-Kent and across the province. 
The Liberals brought in the bill that, among other things raised the minimum wage from $11 to $14 an hour almost immediately, with another dollar added on in 2019.
Chatham-Kent Chamber President and CEO Gail Hundt, says that was too much too fast, giving small business no time to prepare.
“Small businesses represent the majority of our economy in Chatham-Kent and, quite frankly, right across Canada,” Hundt says. “When the province implemented this change, all too fast for good business people trying to make a difference. Everyone deserves a good living wage, no one questions, that, but how it was implemented and when it was implemented was not a positive.”
She says they are all for everyone making a living wage but if the companies cannot afford it and are forced to close, there are no winners.