Northern OT Exemption Proving To Be Unpopular

Northern OT Exemption Proving To Be Unpopular

Monday, August 14, 2006 at 13:07

A government MLA is happy with the turnout at three public meetings last week over the northern overtime exemption.

The meetings in La Loche, Beauval and Buffalo Narrows drew a combined total of roughly 50 people.

Ron Harper has been appointed to study the issue and to make recommendations to cabinet in the fall.

Harper hopes workers aren’t feeling intimidated about making their views known, but if they are, he says they can offer their opinions in a more discreet manner through e-mail, regular mail or a toll-free number.

Harper says most of the people at the meetings held to date want to see the law changed so that northern employers don’t have the option to not pay overtime.

He notes there were even a couple of businesspeople at the Buffalo Narrows meeting who felt the same way.

Harper will make his next swing through the North at the end of the month. Meetings will be held in Creighton, Sandy Bay, Pelican Narrows and Pinehouse.