Minimum wage in New Brunswick to increase by largest percentage in 40 years
The New Brunswick government says it will increase the minimum wage by $2 per hour in 2022. The 17 per cent increase represents the most significant jump in the rate since 1980.
A scheduled increase of $1 per hour in April and another $1 per hour increase in October will boost the province’s minimum wage to $13.75 per hour, the top rate in Atlantic Canada.
“New Brunswickers are having a hard time making ends meet, and the current minimum wage has many people concerned,” said Trevor Holder, post-secondary education, training and labour minister.
“Having represented an economically diverse area for many years, I have learned first-hand the challenges they are facing every day.”
According to the province, New Brunswick currently has the lowest minimum wage in the country and is lower than the rates in the other Atlantic provinces by significant margins. Since 2019, the median wage in the province has increased by 14 per cent compared with a two per cent increase in the minimum wage.
“We realize that given the current economic conditions, these additional increases are critically important,” said Holder.
“This increase will help improve the standard of living of our lower-wage earners and ensure we are competitive with our neighbouring provinces.”
This adjustment will benefit about 15,500 minimum wage earners, as well as 30,000 New Brunswickers who make more than the present minimum wage but less than $13.75 per hour.
According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the government’s decision to increase the minimum wage without consultation comes at the worst possible time for small businesses. The federation says only 39 per cent of the province’s small businesses are at normal revenues and many are operating at a loss.
“This will not help to address New Brunswick’s labour challenges,” said Louis-Philippe Gauthier, CFIB’s senior director of legislative affairs, Atlantic.
“The tightness in the labour market is already having an impact on wages—this decision by government will add even more pressure on the wage scales of employers who are paying above the minimum wage.”
In a recent CFIB survey, the increasing cost of doing business was the top concern of small business owners at 76 per cent, followed by supply chain challenges at 64 per cent.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.