B.C.’s Finance Minister says minimum wage will be going up as scheduled on June 1, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic issues that have come with it.
Carole James was asked by NL News while speaking to media about grim job numbers for March.
“Yes, the minimum wage will be going up. Certainly we recognize that the lowest-paid workers also need supports here. And we do understand the cash flow challenges, the liquidity challenges that businesses are feeling,” James says.
“That’s why, as you know, we’ve made a number of deferrals when it comes to other increases that are coming into place. Or taxes and payments that have to come back to the provincial government, so the Employers Health Tax, the PST, the sales tax, the carbon tax. All of those payments have been deferred to give that liquidity support to businesses as well. So ensuring, as I said, that we’re helping people and businesses at the same time.”
The increase will raise minimum wage to $14.60 per hour, compared to $13.85 right now. It will go up again on June 1, 2021 to $15.20 per hour.