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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/minimum-wage-increase-reaction-1.5927504
New Brunswick's minimum wage increase 'so small,' social justice group says
5-cent increase is smaller than recent increases, and New Brunswick is still behind most other provinces
CBC News· Posted: Feb 25, 2021 1:50 PM AT
The minimum wage is set to increase by five cents on April 1. (Jordan Gill/CBC)
A social justice group isn't impressed by New Brunsick's coming bump in the minimum wage.
The minimum wage is set to increase by five cents on April 1, bringing the wage to $11.75 an hour from $11.70.
The increase is relatively small compared with recent increases, and New Brunswick is still behind almost all other provines and territories.
In 2020, the minimum wage rose by $0.20, in 2019 and 2018 it rose by $0.25 and in 2017 it rose by $0.35.
The yearly increase, announced this week, is indexed to the consumer price index in New Brunswick, which saw a which saw a 0.22 per cent increase last year.
Abram Lutes, the provincial co-ordinator for the New Brunswick Common Front for Social Justice, said the additional five cents is far less that his group would like to see.
"The amount is so small that it begs the question why announce it in the first place," said Lutes.
Poverty line
Lutes said Statistics Canada says a yearly wage of $21,000 is necessary for an individual to stay above the poverty line.
The old minimum wage only let people earn about $20,400 a year — with a full-time job — and the extra nickel an hour only adds $80 a year.
"You're essentially still about $450 short of the poverty line," said Lutes.
"Regardless of this increase, a lot of minimum wage workers are going to be, you know, relying on the help of others, probably going into debt to afford essentials. … It doesn't make a substantial impact in people's lives."
Lutes said he can't speculate on why the province wouldn't want a larger increase for minimum wage workers.
"In general, this government has not been particularly friendly to workers or working people … and there's a whole slew of policies that have shown them to be hostile to working class issues."
Living wage
Lutes said the group once advocated for a $15 minimum wage, but even that is now outpaced by the cost of living in some places in New Brunswick.
"We're effectively having to play catchup with the cost of living, and that hurts and damages a lot of people's livelihoods and prospects," said Lutes.
"We should be committing to making sure that our minimum wage is a wage you can live on with some dignity as soon as possible."
Lutes said he understands that some businesses are struggling and may find a higher minimum wage difficult.
He suggests the government significantly raise the minimum wage but also support small businesses and non-profit organizations in the short term.
"We know that over time a higher minimum wage leads to higher consumption by ... lower-income people, which often translates into being good for business," said Lutes.
With files from Information Morning Moncton
A stipend is a fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance
You can't deny that poor old folks and minimum wager earners vote or the fact that we outnumber Higgy's wealthy buddies and his many greedy minions EH?
Methinks its clear that you and you hero Higgy don't get it yet. However a lot of folks ain't too pleased with Higgy since he won his self serving snap election last summer after canceling the municipal elections. The Ides of March and a vote on his pending budget are 2 weeks or so before April Fools Day. If there is enough dissension within the Blue Coat's ranks lead by 5 disenchanted former cabinet ministers we could be having another snap election or an interesting coalition government. Perhaps with Lady Luck on our side we can be rid of Higgy and his cohorts who enjoy far too many butter tarts on the taxpayer dimes N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-minimum-wage-increase-1.5926204
New Brunswick minimum wage to go up by a nickel on April 1
Last minimum wage increase in province was four times as much
Some New Brunswick workers will see a slight bump in their paycheques come spring.
The minimum wage is set to increase by five cents on April 1, bringing it up to $11.75 an hour from $11.70.
The five-cent increase was arrived at because the minimum wage in New Brunswick is indexed to the province's consumer price index, which saw a 0.22 per cent increase last year.
In a statement posted to the province's website, Labour Minister Trevor Holder said tying the minimum wage to the consumer price index protects "the purchasing power of employees" while also ensuring "predictability for businesses."
"We are mindful of the financial realities faced by both employees and employers, particularly as we endure the COVID-19 pandemic."
The increase is relatively small compared with recent increases.
In 2020 the minimum wage rose by 20 cents in 2019, by 25 cents in 2018 and by 35 cents in 2017.
The province estimates that 20,000 workers in New Brunswick make minimum wage.
The province has the second-lowest minimum wage in the country. Saskatchewan has the lowest at $11.45, and Nunavut has the highest at $16.
The other three Atlantic provinces are also raising their minimum wages later this year, but they're already higher than New Brunswick's will be after the April increase.
In Nova Scotia, the minimum wage is now $12.55, in P.E.I. it's $12.85, and in Newfoundland and Labrador it's $12.15.