Outwageous!
Newfoundland and Labrador’s minimum wage increases, but it’s still pretty low

Businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador beware–the minimum wage went up on Oct. 1 and the provincial New Democratic Party wants it to go up even more.

The NDP has a petition out asking for quick and substantial action on the minimum wage. The government upped it from $10 an hour to $10.25 on October 1, and another 25-cent increase is scheduled for October 2015.

NDP leader Lorraine Michael says the increases are not enough as the province’s economy is in boom mode and the cost of living for residents continues to rise.

Of course, any talk of increasing the minimum wage is of interest not only to employees but employers. Wage hikes represent a cost to business owners and will impact the bottom lines of entrepreneurs, particularly those running small businesses. That concern isn’t lost on Michael. “It can be problematic for businesses, but we have to find a way to deal with it,” Michael says. “Let’s all work together on this.”

It’s interesting to note that the jurisdictions with the strongest economies in Canada, like Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta, have some of the lowest minimum wage rates. And then there’s New Brunswick …