Here's how much the minimum wage is set to increase in B.C.
The B.C. government is hiking the minimum wage to $16.75 an hour starting June 1, as a measure to help the province's lowest-paid workers with rising inflation.
Labour Minister Harry Bains announced Wednesday that it is rising from $15.65 an hour, which represents a 6.9-per-cent increase.
For someone working 40 hours a week, all year, that's a jump of about $2,200 annually.
"These workers and their families feel the impacts of high costs much more than anyone else," Bains said in a news release explaining the changes.
Yet business groups point out many small businesses are also feeling the impact of the pandemic, inflation, and rising taxes.
Annie Dormuth, director of provincial affairs (B.C.) for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, is urging the province to consider wage subsidies, raising the employer health tax exemption or rebating some of WorkSafeBC's surplus to employers. She also questioned why the province wasn't announcing supports at the same time they increased minimum wage.
"When the Manitoba government announced its increase to inflation they announced it with some sort of wage subsidy for businesses if they're really struggling to absorb that extra cost increase," explained Dormuth.
Asked about the timeline for possible supports, B.C. Minister of Jobs Brenda Bailey said she would be meeting with stakeholders and an announcement may be coming soon.
The province estimates the change will help 150,000 workers. Statistics Canada numbers from 2021 show 42 per cent of B.C.'s minimum wage workers are employed by corporations with 500 employees or more.
That's an issue for Sam Jones, who owns 2% Jazz, a coffee shop where the news conference took place. He says smaller businesses like his, who pay employees a fair wage, are at a disadvantage when competing with large companies, and believes a distinction should be made.
"One solution is to look at where they're coming from. Are they British Columbian companies or are they American companies that are paying the least amount they are legally allowed to?" Jones said.
Even with the minimum wage set to increase, advocates for a living wage – that is, paying people an amount required to live in their city – point out the minimum wage is $7 below what a living wage in B.C. should be.
Federally regulated workers saw their minimum wage rise to $16.65 on April 1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Nicki Minaj detained by police in Amsterdam for allegedly possessing soft drugs
American rapper Nicki Minaj said she was held at Amsterdam Schiphol airport on Saturday on allegation of possession of soft drugs.
American Airlines drops law firm that said a 9-year-old girl should have seen camera on toilet seat
American Airlines has replaced the law firm that told a judge a nine-year-old girl was negligent in not noticing there was a camera phone taped to the seat in an airplane lavatory.
Public safety minister pledges to 'massively' reduce auto theft
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc insists the federal government is 'doing everything (it) can' to eliminate auto thefts in Canada, and he hopes to see 'a significant reduction quickly' following this week's announcement of new measures to counter the problem.
Three dead after vehicle leaves road in Shediac: N.B. RCMP
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
More enoki mushrooms, Lamborghini Urus and promotionally-gifted tumbler cups: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada, Transport Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued various recalls this week. Here's what you need to know.
A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again
Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.