B.C.’s minimum wage rising June 1

B.C.’s minimum wage is set to rise Thursday.

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.

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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.

“Having a minimum wage that keeps up with inflation is a key step to prevent the lowest paid workers from falling behind,” said B.C. Minister of Labour Harry Bains when the rise was announced in early April.

“These workers and their families feel the impacts of high costs much more than anyone else.”

Looking back to 2017, B.C. had one of the lowest minimum wages in Canada, sitting at $11.35.

The minimum wage has continued to rise at a somewhat consistent rate since 2011, when the province’s lowest-paid workers made just $8.75.

The province says it is one among “eight other jurisdictions” basing their increases on Consumer Price Indexes.

With files from Maria Vinca