Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

MO' MONEY, MO' PROBLEMS?

Minimum wage in BC set to rise June 1st

May 31, 2019 | 5:51 PM

KAMLOOPS — On June 1st, the minimum wage in British Columbia is set to go up $1.20, from $12.65 to $13.85. It’s one of the election promises John Horgan’s NDP made in 2017; like any decision surrounding money, there will be both benefits and consequences of the increase.

Kamloops Chamber of Commerce Board President Joshua Knaak says one good thing about the increase is that businesses have had a full year to prepare. He suggests that while many companies may be able to adjust their prices to offset the rise, others might not have that luxury.

“The real challenge is for business where their prices are fixed,” Knaak said. “So maybe a franchise, or another business where they don’t have the autonomy to set the prices. Or other businesses where they’re competing with businesses in other jurisdictions, so companies competing with businesses in the United States or out-of-province.”

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The wage hike is good news for the Kamloops and District Labour Council. KDLC President Lois Rugg says this increase puts people closer to a living wage, which is the hourly wage needed to cover the necessary expenses people need to live. The Living Wage For Families Campaign pegs that number at $17.31 an hour in Kamloops.

“That calculation, it just puts people on the poverty line,” Rugg explained. “From our perspective, there’s still a long way to go… it puts money into the economy; people tend to stay at jobs longer… there are all kinds of [benefits] for the businesses and for the people that are going to benefit from that wage.”