On Sept. 15, the B.C. Liberal government will increase the minimum wage to $10.85, a 40-cent increase to move British Columbia out of last place nationally for minimum wage.
In the announcement on May 4, Premier Christy Clark announced the increase is above the Consumer Price Index (CPI) formula increase of 10 cents and will share economic growth and "create a fairer, more just society."
Leon Chretien notes that as the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce chair and a business owner, he fully understands the need for a wage on which employers and employees can both move forward in today's economy and the economy of the future.
"Entry employees need to be able to make a living, Chretien says, adding that while employers often spend extra effort and finances on training the employees for current duties and prepare them for positions, which, in themselves, bring large wage increases.
"Overall, the increase is reasonable for the citizens of our community who fill these much-needed positions and the reduction in the small business tax, which has been proposed as an offset, is a great step for the government to take responsibility for raising the standard of the community."
The provincial government is increasing the minimum wage in two stages to better reflect the province’s overall economic growth and ensure all workers benefit from British Columbia’s success.
The first increase will be 40 cents and it will take the minimum wage rate to $10.85 per hour, effective Sept. 15, 2016. This new rate includes the 10 cents scheduled for the 2015 CPI, plus an additional 30 cents.
"Every little bit helps, says Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre executive director Lisa De Paoli.
"For the one in four children living in poverty in our community, every little bit, even an additional 40 cents so their mom or dad makes $10.85 an hour makes a difference.
"If mom or dad works full time, this means that the family will receive about $16 more a week. Enough to buy a couple of pounds of hamburger, or pay for half the cost of a package of diapers or buy a bag of apples and oranges."
De Paoli says she hopes the government at all levels - locally, regionally, provincially and nationally – will work together with businesses to develop and implement a Poverty Reduction Plan that will move all families out of poverty to a level where they can rent decent housing, buy nutritious food, pay for quality day care and contribute to the economic and physical health of our community.
"To achieve equity so every child reaches his or her full potential, we need to implement a living wage, not just a minimum wage."
A second increase of 30 cents plus an amount based on the 2016 CPI (estimated to be 10 cents) will take the minimum wage rate to $11.25, effective Sept. 15, 2017.
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says this topic has been around for awhile now and they were trying to bring it up slowly without an impact on businesses, especially the small businesses.
She adds the B.C. Federation of Labour has been campaigning for a $15 minimum wage.
"It's tough when you are a business owner; you're doing the best you can.
"Moms and pops [businesses] may only be able to afford $12 an hour, and that's all they can afford. You have got to have a starting point."