By Canadian Press

B.C. to boost minimum wage to $16.75 an hour, matching inflation with 6.9% hike

Apr 5, 2023 | 2:43 PM

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s minimum wage will increase to $16.75 an hour, a boost that the government says fulfils a promise to tie the benchmark pay level to inflation.

The new minimum wage kicks in on June 1 and represents a 6.9 per cent increase from the current $15.65 an hour.

Labour Minister Harry Bains says the measure is a key step to preventing the province’s lowest-paid workers from falling behind.

He says the same percentage increase will apply for residential caretakers, live-in home-support workers and camp leaders.

A ministry statement says the wage increase matches B.C.’s 2022 average inflation rate and will benefit about 150,000 workers, most of them food service staff, grocery store workers, retail workers and others who were essential workers during the pandemic.

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The $1.10 increase is much greater than the 45-cent boost in 2022, which matched the previous year’s 2.8 per cent inflation rate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 5, 2023.

The Canadian Press