Manitoba to bring in bill to increase minimum wage

The Stefanson Authorities may hike minimal wage this yr past the preset charge.

Manitoba raises minimal wage primarily based on the earlier yr’s inflation charge. So it's set to extend from $11.95 an hour to $12.35 in October. However Manitoba will likely be final within the nation when Saskatchewan hikes its minimal wage to $13 later this yr.

With inflation and the price of residing skyrocketing now, the province might be a bigger bump this October.

“We acknowledge that we have to transfer ahead … to verify our minimal wage is aggressive throughout the nation,” mentioned Premier Heather Stefanson. The province launched laws permitting cupboard to lift minimal wage above the conventional charge if inflation exceeds 5 per cent within the first three months of the yr.

However how far more the wage may go up is unclear. Labour Minister Reg Helwer mentioned the province desires suggestions from enterprise and labour teams earlier than making any selections.

“We are likely to … comply with different provinces, typically we lead different provinces however we’re going to hearken to these consultations to find out the place we go on this,” mentioned Helwer. Too giant of a hike might be laborious for companies. Kathleen Prepare dinner from the Canadian Federation of Unbiased Enterprise mentioned small companies are nonetheless recovering from pandemic lockdowns.

“A lot of them have taken on important debt to get by means of the pandemic and so they’re feeling squeezed by inflation too,” mentioned Prepare dinner, “So our primary message to governments this yr isn't any new prices.”

Anti-poverty advocates and others have been arguing for a $15 an hour minimal wage for years.

Jessica Boyle mentioned it may be achieved.

“I got here from Alberta and Alberta is at $15 an hour and that’s extra cheap for minimal wage,” mentioned Boyle. The Canadian Federation of Unbiased Enterprise mentioned if a bigger minimal wage hike is put in place, the province may have a look at serving to small companies with offsets like a gas tax minimize or wage subsidies.