It looks good on paper, but that’s about it.

That’s how representatives of Nova Scotia’s construction industry feel about Halifax Regional Municipality’s incoming living wage requirement.

Effective April 1, the municipality’s contractors for solid waste services, custodial and janitorial services, snow and ice management and security services will be required to pay its workers $21.80 per hour.

The figure was extracted from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report released in September, which determined the current living wage for Halifax is $21.80 per hour. 

Melody Hillman, acting president and chief executive officer of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia, said while snow removal and solid waste management may not be considered construction, the living wage policy will affect many workers in the construction industry. 

“As well, we have great concerns that there will be scope creep and that this will work its way into other areas, which will provide even more hurdles,” Hillman told HRM’s community planning and economic development standing committee during a presentation Thursday. 

The living wage requirement causes “great concerns” for those in the construction industry, especially small businesses who will most likely suffer the most, Hillman said. 

“We feel that HRM is trying to raise up smaller companies, but we feel like this current structure will likely do the opposite.” 

Coun. Patty Cuttell (Spryfield-Sambro Loop-Prospect Road) said she has heard from small businesses who are concerned about the complications paying their employees under the living wage requirement will bring.

Grant Feltmate, executive director of the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association, said adding complexity to a contracting situation “always favours the big folks.” 

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