On June 1, the province’s lowest-paid workers will get an hourly wage boost of just over $1 — rising from $15.65 to $16.75. According to the province, prior to 2017, B.C. had one of the lowest minimum wages in the country but was one of the most expensive places to live.
It adds this 6.9 per cent increase will help around 150,000 workers currently making minimum wage in the province.
The majority of provinces and territories across Canada are increasing their minimum wage before the end of 2023, with Alberta and Nunavut being the lone outliers leaving wages as they are. Although B.C.’s new minimum wage will be one of the highest in the country, the province says it will continue looking at options to “tie minimum wage to inflation” moving forward.