B.C.'s NDP expected to announce minimum wage changes today

Province aiming to eventually move base rate to $15 an hour

B.C.'s NDP expected to announce minimum wage changes today
Premier-designate John Horgan gives the thumbs up to the crowd after being sworn in at Government House in Victoria, July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Light/File

 

A bump in minimum wage is expected to be announced in Canada’s most westerly province today.

British Columbia's New Democrats are slated to make an announcement at a Vancouver coffee shop Feb. 8. Both Premier John Horgan and Labour Minister Harry Bains will be on hand.

B.C.’s current minimum wage is $11.35 an hour, following a 50-cent increase in Sept. 2017. The government then set up a Fair Wages Commission to recommend future minimum wage increases in an effort to move the base rate to $15 an hour.

Today’s announcement comes ahead of the provincial throne speech, set for Tuesday, which is expected to build on promises to tackle affordability.

The minority government pledged in its first speech last September to protect renters from huge increases, hike welfare rates and launch consultations to boost the minimum wage.

With files from The Canadian Press

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