Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Quebec Raising Minimum Wage To $12 As Of May 1

The Canadian Press, 17 Jan, 2018 12:17 PM
  • Quebec Raising Minimum Wage To $12 As Of May 1
MONTREAL — Quebec will raise the province's minimum wage to $12 an hour as of May 1, Labour Minister Dominique Vien announced Wednesday.
 
More than 352,000 workers stand to benefit from the 75-cent increase, the largest hike in Quebec history.
 
Vien said in a statement the rise is in line with a four-year plan to have the minimum wage equivalent to 50 per cent of the average provincial hourly wage by 2020, without exceeding that level.
 
Quebec's thriving economy has also helped the average hourly salary rise more quickly than anticipated, she added.
 
"The good economic performance of Quebec allows us to substantially raise the minimum wage," Vien said. 
 
"This increase will improve the quality of life for low-income workers as well as promote the incentive to work, raise the amount of disposable income and contribute to lowering the rate of poverty, without harming the job market and competitiveness of our businesses." 
 
The raise represents between $462 and $979 in the pocketbooks of minimum wage earners, depending on hours worked and family situation.
 
At $12, Quebec's minimum wage would be the third highest in the country behind Alberta's and Ontario's.
 
Ontario raised its minimum hourly wage to $14 per hour on Jan. 1 and plans another increase to $15 next January.
 
Alberta's minimum wage is expected to rise to $15 later this year.
 
Daniel Boyer, president of the Quebec Federation of Labour, which represents about 600,000 workers, said the province could have done better.
 
The labour organization was behind a fight that began in May 2016 for a $15 minimum wage in the province — something Quebec wouldn't commit to.
 
Employer groups like the Canadian Federation of Independent Business expressed concern with the sudden hike, adding it hoped Quebec would stick with its initial plan.
 
"It's a bit unexpected," said Martine Hebert, the group's senior vice-president. "We would have preferred the government follow its original game plan."
 
In January 2017, Vien had mapped out increases of 50, 35 and 35 cents between 2018 and 2020, bringing the minimum salary to $12.45 by 2020.
 
But she cautioned at the time the increases could change depending on the economic situation.
 
Workers who make minimum age with tips will see their hourly pay climb by 35 cents to $9.80 an hour, also on May 1.

MORE National ARTICLES

Girls' Deaths In B.C. Prompt Debate About Judges And Domestic Violence

Girls' Deaths In B.C. Prompt Debate About Judges And Domestic Violence
VANCOUVER — The deaths of two young girls in British Columbia who were previously the subject of a custody dispute have prompted debate about how judges decide cases involving allegations of domestic violence.

Girls' Deaths In B.C. Prompt Debate About Judges And Domestic Violence

Imran Khan Admits He Has Proposed, But Denies Third Marriage Took Place

Imran Khan Admits He Has Proposed, But Denies Third Marriage Took Place
Imran Khan's spokesman in a statement said that he had proposed marriage to Bushra Maneka, who has "asked for time to make a final decision after consulting her family, including her children".

Imran Khan Admits He Has Proposed, But Denies Third Marriage Took Place

2 Missing Snowmobilers Rescued Near Revelstoke: Mother

REVELSTOKE, B.C. — Police say two young men are lucky to have survived after they got lost snowmobiling and were forced to spend the night on a mountain near Revelstoke, B.C.

2 Missing Snowmobilers Rescued Near Revelstoke: Mother

Pakistan As A Terrorist Safe Haven No Longer Acceptable: CIA

Pakistan As A Terrorist Safe Haven No Longer Acceptable: CIA
CIA chief Mike Pompeo has said that Pakistan continues to provide safe havens to terrorists, which is not acceptable to America.

Pakistan As A Terrorist Safe Haven No Longer Acceptable: CIA

British Columbia Premier John Horgan To Head To Asia This Month On Trade Mission

VICTORIA — British Columbia's premier is heading to China, South Korea and Japan later this month on a 10-day trade mission.

British Columbia Premier John Horgan To Head To Asia This Month On Trade Mission

Man Dead Following Homicide In Surrey, B.C.: Police

Man Dead Following Homicide In Surrey, B.C.: Police
RCMP say they were called to the Cloverdale area just after midnight on Sunday and first responders found a man in distress.

Man Dead Following Homicide In Surrey, B.C.: Police