Manitoba increasing minimum wage to $13.50
Posted August 18, 2022 2:46 pm.
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson says the province is increasing the minimum wage to$13.50 an hour come October, up from $11.95.
She says it will keep Manitoba competitive with other provinces and help people cope with inflation.
The province says the increase is part of a plan to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 by October 2023.
It plans to boost the minimum wage to $14.15 next April.
The province says it plans to speak with small businesses about support programs to help adjust to higher payroll costs.
“Manitoba small businesses are the backbone of our economy and we are committed to helping them grow and thrive,” said Cliff Cullen, the provincial economic development, investment and trade minister.
“As we continue to grow our economy, we want to attract more workers and high-quality investments to our province. We are committed to working with our business community to address the impacts of this wage increase and find workable solutions together.”
The Progressive Conservative government passed legislation earlier this year that gives it authority to boost the hourly rate above the current formula, which adjusts it every October to match the inflation rate from the previous year.
Under that formula, Manitoba’s minimum wage would have become the lowest in Canada at $12.35.
Saskatchewan has had a lower minimum wage than Manitoba, but recently announced it is raising it to $13 an hour this fall and to $15 an hour by 2024.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2022.
