Editing Tim Hortons (section)

===Ontario minimum wage===
Tim Hortons became the subject of controversy after the raise of the minimum wage in [[Ontario]] from $11.60 to $14.00 an hour which was made effective January 2018. The minimum wage increase was strongly criticized by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Restaurants Canada, and the Canadian Franchise Association. Restaurant Brands International did not help franchisees offset the wage hike, refusing to reduce the supply costs that it charged Tim Hortons franchisees, nor did it permit franchisees to raise menu prices in order to offset the wage hikes (in contrast to [[McDonald's]], [[Cara Foods]] and [[Starbucks]] who did allow menu price increases in Ontario to cope with the wage increases).<ref name="business.financialpost.com">{{Cite news|url=https://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/we-are-offended-franchisees-blast-ontario-premier-for-unfairly-targeting-tim-hortons-founding-families|title='We are offended': Franchisees blast Ontario premier for unfairly targeting Tim Hortons' founding families &#124; Financial Post|newspaper=Financial Post|date=January 5, 2018|last1=Shaw|first1=Hollie}}</ref> Tim Hortons franchisees, many of them small business owners who employed an average of 35 staff (the wage hike would cost the franchisee $7,000 per employee a year), responded by cutting employee benefits such as paid breaks and contributions to health plans.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sagan|first1=Aleksandra|title=Children of Tim Hortons co-founders cut worker benefits at their franchises over wage hike|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/franchises-owned-by-children-of-tim-hortons-co-founders-reduce-employee-benefits/article37490649/|access-date=January 23, 2018|work=The Globe and Mail|date=January 4, 2018}}</ref> In one case, owners posted a memo encouraging employees to contact the Ontario Premier, [[Kathleen Wynne]], and indicate that they "will not vote Liberal in the coming Ontario election in June 2018."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=Sophia|title=Tim Hortons franchise owners tell workers to blame Wynne for benefit cuts and to 'not vote Liberal'|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tim-hortons-minimum-wage-hike-ontario-government-1.4493436|access-date=January 23, 2018|publisher=CBC News|date=January 19, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Wynne responded by saying "I'm happy to talk to any business owner about the minimum wage but taking it out on employees is not fair and not acceptable."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jeffords|first1=Shawn|title=Wynne criticizes Tim Hortons franchisees, says workers shouldn't be pawns|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/wynne-criticizes-tim-hortons-franchisee-says-workers-shouldnt-be-pawns/article37666259/|access-date=January 23, 2018|work=The Globe and Mail|date=January 19, 2018}}</ref> Around 50 demonstrations were held across Canada, including 38 in Ontario, in response to the benefit cuts.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hodges|first1=David|title=Tim Hortons protests to expand beyond Ontario, 50 demonstrations planned across Canada|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2018/01/18/tim-hortons-protests-to-expand-beyond-ontario-50-demonstrations-planned-across-canada.html|access-date=January 23, 2018|work=Toronto Star|date=January 18, 2018|language=en-CA}}</ref> The minimum wage controversy hurt the chain's reputation; usually placing in the top 10 of the [[Léger (company)|Leger]] research poll for the top 10 companies or brands in Canada, Tim Hortons dropped from 4th place in 2017 to 50th in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-tim-hortons-slides-from-top-10-in-brand-reputation-survey/|title=Tim Hortons slides from fourth to 50th in brand reputation survey|access-date=2018-04-06}}</ref>