Minimum Wage Set To Rise

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FM Pete McIntyre August 15, 2017 03:15 pm
BC’s new government is proceeding with a 50 cent an hour increase to the minimum wage. Labour Minister Harry Baines says the rate will rise to $11.35 an hour Sept. 15, an increase the previous Liberal government was also planning. “It is a start that makes BC the third highest minimum wage province in Canada, up from the 7th we are today. It will put a little more money int the wallets of almost 94-thousand people, and with more money in their pockets, it will help fuel our economy,” Baines told a news conference. At the same time, the liquor server’s wage will also rise by 50 cents to $10.10 an hour Baines says the government wants to gradually increase the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour by 2021, and a Fair Wage Commission will be set up to work with stakeholders to reach that. “They will find a pathway for us and how they can guide us to 15 dollars.” Baines says they will make incremental and predictable increases to reach 15 dollars an hour over the next four years. Baines says the NDP is “catching up” for BC’s minimum wage not being raised for 10 years by the former government. “We are far behind in many jurisdictions. We are seventh in ten provinces. What we are doing now is small steps to catch up.”