Upcoming Minimum Wage Increases in British Columbia

February 8, 2018

Upcoming Minimum Wage Increases in British Columbia

Following an announcement by Premier John Horgan this morning British Columbia’s minimum wage will be increasing at a pace more rapid than many originally expected. The NDP campaigned on a promise to bring a $15 minimum wage to British Columbia by 2021, and created a “Fair Wages Commission” which was tasked with putting forward a plan concerning the timing and implementation of wage increases.
Premier Horgan announced today that the government will be adopting the recommendations made by the Fair Wages Commission, and will be increasing the minimum wage as follows:

June 1, 2018: $12.65 an hour
June 1, 2019: $13.85 an hour;
June 1, 2020: $14.60 an hour;
June 1, 2021: $15.20 an hour;

The next scheduled increase in June 2018 amounts to a $1.30 increase from the current minimum wage of $11.35, which was itself increased only a few months ago in September 2017 from the rate of $10.85 an hour.
The full report of the Fair Wages Commission, including its recommendations can be found here.
If you have questions regarding the impact of these changes, or steps you can take to reduce their impact, please do not hesitate to contact a Mathews Dinsdale lawyer in our British Columbia office.

More insights

In A Flash

Ontario Introduces Working for Workers Act, 2023

For the third consecutive year, the Ontario Government has introduced legislative amendments to various workplace laws under the so-called “Working for Workers Act”. This year’s iteration – the Working for Workers Act, 2023 – was introduced on March 20, 2023.

In A Flash

Ontario Court Strikes Down Bill 124 for Being Unconstitutional

The 2019 Bill legislated a max 1% compensation increase affecting approx. 780,000 workers in the public and broader public sector in ON. This article reviews the Court’s decision in ON English Catholic Teachers Assn. v. His Majesty and the potential impact on affected employers.

In A Flash

Ontario Proposes New Minimum Standards for Gig Workers and Employee Monitoring Policies

Ontario introduced Bill 88 – known as the Working for Workers Act, 2022 – if passed would provide for a minimum wage and other foundational rights for digital platform workers who offer rides or deliver food and other items for companies like Uber, Lyft, Door Dash and Instacart.