British Columbia's minimum wage increased to $10.25 per hour on May 1, 2012.

The BC Government's May 1, 2012 news release stated as follows:

B.C.'s minimum wage will increase to $10.25 per hour on Tuesday, May 1, Minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government Margaret MacDiarmid confirmed today.

At the same time, the minimum wage rate for liquor servers will increase to $9.00 per hour.

This is the third increase to the minimum wage over the past year, and follows on Premier Christy Clark's commitment in March 2011 to increase minimum wage in three stages to $10.25 per hour by May 1, 2012, providing more support for B.C. workers and families in every region of the province.

Non-hourly rates paid to camp leaders, live-in home support workers and resident caretakers will be adjusted at the same time in proportion to the increase in minimum wage.  read more »

The BC government released a report on Friday that was the culmination of a recent engagement process on the future of B.C.'s employment standards, including minimum wage.

The report can be found here: Summary Report on Employment Standards Stakeholder Engagement Process (March 2011).

The April 29, 2011 Information Bulletin announcing the report states:

Between December 2010 and February 2011, senior ministry staff engaged in a dialogue with groups and organizations representing stakeholders including employees, employers and with some academic experts to discuss how B.C.'s employment standards could be modernized to reflect the needs of the 21^st century workplace. More than 30 stakeholder groups provided high-level input that will help inform future government action on the following themes:  read more »

A new minimum wage rates come into effect in Québec beginning today (May 1).

The general rate will increase from $9 to $9.50/hour and the rate for employees earning gratuities will increase $0.25 to $8.25.

The hourly rate payable to employees of certain sectors of the clothing industry
will increase from $9 to $9.50.

See the Government of Québec notice here.

The Fraser Institute released a report today in which it has forecasted that the hike in BC's minimum wage to $10.25/hour could lead to a loss of more than 52,000 jobs.

The increase in BC's minimum wage, that was announced by Premier Christy Clark soon after she took office, will occur in stages over time. The first increase from $8.00 to $10.25 is to take effect this Sunday (May 1, 2011).

The think-tank's report can be accessed here: Estimating the Economic Impact of British Columbia's Minimum Wage Increase (April 29, 2011).

The press release accompanying the report states:  read more »

New premier Christy Clark didn't waste time on the minimum wage issue.

In a news release today, she announced that British Columbia's minimum wage will
increase in three stages to $10.25 by May 1, 2012 and that the training wage will be
eliminated.

According to the news release:  read more »

Christy Clark was chosen as the leader of the BC Liberal Party last night and thus the new premier designate of British Columbia.

Her campaign included two promises that involve the BC Employment Standards Act:

1. Minimum wage: She supports raising the minimum wage - currently $8 in most cases - after the government's consultation is complete. She will also eliminate the training wage.
2. Family Day statutory holiday in February: She believes families deserve a break during the winter months. She'll spend the next few months consulting with business on how to give families a holiday in February. 

Source: "10 questions for premier-designate Christy Clark", The Province (February 27, 2011)

The British Columbia "Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services" is recommending that BC increase its minimum wage from the current $8/hour.

The recommendation was found in the "First Report on the Budget 2011 Consultations" which was made public on November 12, 2010. The committee is comprised of 10 MLAs and chaired by Liberal Party member John Les. The specific reccomendation is to "Increase the minimum wage in small increments with appropriate advance notice".

The BC Federation of Labour, among others, has been calling on the provincial government to increase the minimum wage for some time now. See this March 5, 2009 post and this January 5, 2010 post.

Today's Calgary Herald had an article ("Alberta MLAs reopen minimum wage debate; is $8.80 too much to pay?") about an Alberta all-party MLA committee meeting being held today to discuss draft recommendations on the future of that province's minimum wage.

The article states that:  read more »

New Brunswick's minimum wage increased to $9 effective today. The increase is part of a long-term plan announced by the New Brunswick government in January 2010 that will see that province's minimum wage reach $10 on September 1, 2011.

The B.C. Federation of Labour marked the occasion by issuing a media release calling for a $10 an hour minimum wage in British Columbia with future increases linked to annual cost of living increases.

The BC Ministry of Labour periodically issues a brief report entitled, "The Facts on Jobs and Wages in B.C." Based on this site, it appears to have started the practice in January 2009.

The latest report was issued today and sets out the following "facts on job creation and the wages earned by B.C. workers":  read more »