B.C.’s minimum wage is now the highest of any province in Canada.
It is increasing to $16.75 per hour from $15.65 on Thursday (June 1st), an increase of nearly 7%.
It will apply to approximately 150,000 workers including resident caretakers, live-in home-support workers, and live-in camp leaders.
In April, the provincial government announced the nearly 7% spike.
However, the hike has been met with opposition from organizations like the Prince George Chamber of Commerce who have spoken up about the issue.
In an earlier interview with MyPGNow.com, CEO Quynlan Young noted while some workers are approaching it with arms wide open, the chamber is extremely disappointed with the move.
“The increase will make it hard for some businesses to manage their operations,” she explained, “honestly, it is a disincentive to invest in BC, particularly Northern BC.”
She noted BC is already an expensive place to run a business, and northern businesses often have higher costs than those down south.
“Five years of minimum wage increases, mandatory paid sick leave, and the additional stat holiday are just recent examples of government decisions that have added cost to businesses in BC.”
“It continues to add costs onto the backs of the businesses with little regard for their health and long-term viability.”
Furthermore, Young does not think the decision drives sustainability and prosperity but instead makes further action from the government to help grow communities more urgent.
She added giving businesses less than two months’ notice was not fair for businesses to adjust to the financial changes.
Last year, B.C. increased the minimum wage by 2.8%, which was the increase in the cost of living in the province in 2021.
– with files from Will Peters, MyPGNow.com staff
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