CFIB tells United Way to stay out of politics

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The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the United Way needs to stay out of politics, and is urging small businesses to show their support elsewhere.

The small- and medium-sized business advocacy group says the charity is acting as a left-wing advocacy group, after it commissioned a report carried out by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives that called for a living wage of $20.10 an hour in Nova Scotia.

CFIB Atlantic vice president Jordi Morgan says small business owners may want to reconsider supporting the United Way, and instead donate to other charities directly.

“If you run a small business, and you’re giving to the United Way, do you want to give to an organization that is — even though it’s partnering with this organization — that is suggesting, essentially, a 20 dollar an hour minimum wage?”

Sue LaPierre of the United Way told the Sheldon MacLeod Show their involvement in the study isn’t political, and is simply a tool to help them reduce poverty in the community.

“Our intent in engaging in the research around a living wage was simply to get an idea of what the number was and how big the gap is,” she said.

“The next important conversation is how do we fill that gap, and explore the many options towards that.”

That conversation will continue at a panel discussion scheduled for Thursday at the Peggy Corkum music room on Lady Hammond Road at 7 p.m.

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