New Brunswick Gets First Minimum Wage Hike in Nearly 3 Years

Thousands of New Brunswickers will see their wages go up at the first of the year.

Premier Brian Gallant announced Friday that the provincial government will increase the minimum wage on Dec. 31 from $10.00 to $10.30 per hour. This will be the first minimum wage increase in the province since April 2012.

Gallant said, “This increase will help make life more affordable for the nearly 28,000 New Brunswickers earning minimum wage today."

New Brunswick is currently tied with the Northwest Territories for the lowest minimum wage in Canada.

Labour Minister Francine Landry stated, “Higher minimum wages lead to lower employee turnover, better employee performance, helping businesses thrive and prosper.”

The 30 cent increase is part of the Liberal government's plan to increase the minimum wage to $11 per hour by 2017 and thereafter will be adjusted with the rate of inflation.