Would a $20 minimum wage in Quebec be a major economic shock?

Québec Solidaire is proposing to raise Quebec's minimum wage to $20 an hour, saying it would help lowerincome workers cope with rising costs. Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette argued the increase would ripple through the broader wage scale and could hurt the economy. The article says some researchers dispute that warning. EveLyne Couturier of IRIS said past concerns about large wage hikes often do not match what happens in practice, while studies have found no clear evidence that higher wages for low earners cause inflationary spirals or broad instability. Quebec's minimum wage is currently $16.60 an hour, and about 137,100 workers earn exactly that amount. Economists cited in the story said a move to $20 would affect a wider group of workers earning between $16.60 and $20, and that evidence of major job losses from such increases is difficult to find. Québec Solidaire said it would pair the policy with $330 million in support for businesses.