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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Convenience Store Owners Tell Government "Give Us A Break"

The Atlantic Convenience Stores Association now weighing in on the debate over whether the next increase in the provincial minimum wage should be delayed by six months.

Association President Mike Hammoud tells CHSJ News he's not against someone making decent money but the prices of the top three sellers in convenience stores are gas, tobacco and lottery tickets are all regulated by government.

Hammoud also points out convenience stores are closing at the rate of one per day with 100 of them shutting their doors in New Brunswick over the past five years.

He argues raising the minimum wage by 19 per cent in just two years is too much for convenience store operators who already find themselves under financial pressure. Hammoud maintains there should be no increase as long as the economy is flat.