Minimum wages going up in the Yukon, B.C., Quebec

Wage changes effective May 1

Minimum wages in the Yukon, British Columbia and Quebec will increase on May 1.

Yukon

The general minimum wage rate in the Yukon will increase from $9.27 per hour to $10.30 on May 1. On April 1, 2012, the minimum wage rate in the province increased from $9 per hour to $9.27. The rate will continue to be indexed by any increases to the annual Whitehorse Consumer Price Index, according to the territory’s government.

The Yukon Employment Standards Board will hold a public review in the fall seeking feedback on the $10.30 minimum wage rate and will make a recommendation should further changes to the rate be deemed necessary, the Yukon government said.

British Columbia

The general minimum wage rate is set to increase from $9.50 per hour to $10.25 in B.C. on May 1. The rate for liquor servers will rise from $8.75 per hour to $9 on the same date.

Also effective May 1, the following minimum wage changes will apply in B.C.: the minimum rate for live-in home support workers will rise from $95 per day to $102.50, the minimum rate for live-in camp leaders will increase from $76.00 a day to $82, the minimum rate for resident caretakers with 9 to 60 suites will go up from $570 a month, plus $22.85 per suite, to $615 a month, plus $24.65 per suite and the minimum rate for resident caretakers with more than 60 suites will increase from $1,941.56 per month to $2,094.84.

Quebec

Quebec’s general minimum wage rate will rise from $9.65 per hour to $9.90 on May 1. Other minimum wage rates will also increase on May 1. Employees who receive tips will see their minimum wage go from $8.35 to $8.55. Employees in specified sectors of the clothing industry will see an increase from $9.65 to $9.90.

Raspberry pickers who previously made $2.84 per kilogram will make $2.91 per kilogram and strawberry pickers who made $0.75 per kilogram will have their wage increased to $0.77 per kilogram.

Quebec will also introduce new measures for board and lodging. The maximum deductions will be: $2 per meal, up to $26 a week; $25 a week for a room only, $30 a week for a room and meals if the room can accommodate five or more employees and $45 a week for a room and meals where the room sleeps no more than four employees.

In the future, the amounts will be indexed based on increases in the minimum wage rate without exceeding the consumer price index. In addition, the deduction requirements now apply not only to situations where the employer provides the accommodation, but also to situations where the employer sees to it that accommodation is provided.

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