By Vanessa Ybarra

In surprise move, Kamloops Chamber lauds minimum wage hike

Sep 15, 2017 | 5:08 PM

KAMLOOPS — Earlier this year, the B.C. Liberals announced it would increase the province’s minimum wage by 50 cents from $10.85 to $11.35 an hour.

The new NDP government has held true to that promise, with the new wage coming into effect Friday.

While the wage increase is likely to tighten business owners wallets, the Kamloops District Labour Council and the Chamber of Commerce says it still supports the move.

Booster Juice employees, including 19-year-old Hailey-Ann Orton, got their own boost Friday, with B.C.’s minimum wage jumping from $10.85 to $11.35 an hour.

Boogie The Bridge

Boogie The Bridge Event Information

Apr 19, 2024

Two and Out

PETERS: Try as he might, Allan Schoenborn will never be forgotten

5h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Sorry - did you say, 'Take your old guns to the post office?'

11h ago

“I think that’s great, it means more for me,” said Orton.

Orton works full time at Booster Juice and is trying to save up money to go to university.

She’s hopeful her wage of $11.25 an hour will jump beyond the new minimum wage as part of Friday’s announcement.

“I’m hoping I’m able to save more and put away more money for when I do go to school,” said Orton.

According to a Canada Social Report, B.C.’s minimum wage has jumped almost 30 per cent since 2010, the province now having the fifth highest minimum wage in the country but still lags behind Alberta and Ontario.

Barb Nederpel, President of the Kamloops and District Labour Council, says it’s still not enough.

“In Kamloops the actual living wage is $16.90 so you can see we’re a long ways to go from people actually being able to live above the poverty line and actually being able to fully participate in society,” said Nederpel.

Paul Ross with the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce says he too supports paying employees more.

“If we don’t have employees, we don’t have businesses so it’s the recognization that the minimum wage is probably too low. It’s not a living wage for the province and we support that,” said Ross.

Ross says the biggest concern for the chamber is ensuring the NDP gives businesses plenty of warning before the next wage increase.

“The biggest thing for us in the business world is consistency and predictability,” added Ross. “We need to be able to plan and budget for these increases at the end of the day.”

As for Orton, any raise is a good raise, at least for now.

“I mean it’s not great but it’s good enough,” said Orton.

The NDP government promised to raised B.C.’s minimum wage to $15 in this year’s election.

While the deadline has been pushed back, the party says it remains committed to ensuring the target is eventually met.