By Jill Sperling

BC NDP leader promises minimum wage boost

Jun 26, 2016 | 2:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — The BC NDP are promising to put more cash in the pockets of minimum wage earners. 

Party leader John Horgan announced at the Forward conference in Kamloops this morning, June 26, the minimum wage would increase to $15 an hour within his first term, should the BC NDP defeat the Liberals in next year’s election. 

B.C.’s minimum wage is currently $10.45 cents, the lowest in all of Canada.

Horgan claims the current government has treated the lowest-paid workers in the province as an “afterthought.”

“They can’t make ends meet,” Horgan said. “Affordability is the number one issue, whether I’m in Quesnel, Cranbrook, Kamloops, or the north coast, what I hear from people is that every time they turn around costs are going up for them, usually costs that are imposed by the government.”

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: David Eby must scrap his failed decriminalization experiment

12h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Lansdowne project a nightmare to deal with

16h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Feel good about growing food indoors

May 01, 2024

Horgan says BC Hydro rates, ICBC premiums, bus fares, camping fees, and tuition fees have all seen significant increases. 

He says it’s important to ensure young people in particular have more money to spend in the economy.