Skip to Main content

8.79°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Jun 1, 2020 4:13 PM -

Minimum wage goes up June 1 in B.C. as businesses face COVID-19 challenges

Share On

minimum-wage-goes-up-june-1-in-b-c-as-businesses-face-covid-19-challenges

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains arrives at the start of the debate at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, June 26, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

BC's Labour Minister Harry Bains says he understands the pressures facing employers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but workers are also struggling and the minimum wage will increase as planned on Monday.

The BC government announced a series of minimum wage increases in 2018 and the June 1st wage boost goes up 75 cents per hour to $14.60.

Bains says Labour Ministry data shows 60 per cent of people earning minimum wage in BC are female and 93 per cent of the province's minimum wage paying jobs are in the service sector, including cleaning services, grocery stores and restaurants.

He says businesses are able to receive tax breaks and payment deferral options as part of the government's $5 billion pandemic relief plan, which also includes a $1.5 billion economic recovery fund.

Statistics Canada reported BC's unemployment rate jumped to 11.5 per cent in April, with almost 400,000 lost jobs since March as businesses laid off workers, with some closing permanently.

BC's minimum wage is will go up to $15.20 an hour by June 2021.

Latest news

liberal-minister-signals-possible-further-mp-defections-as-government-nears-majority

CanadaDec 15, 2025

Liberal minister signals possible further MP defections as government nears majority

A federal cabinet minister says the governing Liberals are hearing increased interest from opposition MPs following a recent high-profile defection that has brought the government to the brink of a majority in the House of Commons. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson told reporters Tuesday that he has received “lots of inquiries” when asked whether additional MPs are considering crossing the floor to join the Liberal caucus. His comments come days after Ontario MP Michael Ma left the Conservative Party to sit with the Liberals. Ma’s move has left the Liberals one seat short of a majority, a shif

b-c-braces-for-more-flooding-as-heavy-rain-forecast-across-fraser-valley-and-vancouver-island

B.C. braces for more flooding as heavy rain forecast across Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island

The B.C. government is warning that heavy rain expected across parts of the province could lead to additional flooding in low-lying areas. Authorities say the Sumas and Chilliwack Rivers remain under flood warnings, though rainfall is anticipated to be less severe than last week’s storms that caused extensive flooding in Abbotsford. Environment Canada has issued "high impact" rainfall warnings for the Fraser and Skagit valleys, with some areas expected to receive up to 80 millimetres of rain, particularly in higher elevations. Officials cautioned that the situation is unpredictable and that

three-children-die-from-flu-related-complications-in-ottawa-eastern-ontario-as-cases-surge

CanadaDec 15, 2025

Three children die from flu-related complications in Ottawa, eastern Ontario as cases surge

Public health officials in Ottawa and eastern Ontario say three children have died from complications linked to influenza over the past two weeks, underscoring growing concerns as flu activity rises sharply across the province. Medical officers of health for Ottawa and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit say the children were between the ages of five and nine. Officials describe the recent deaths as rare but serious, noting that influenza can lead to severe illness, particularly among young children. Health units report a rapid and significant increase in Influenza A activity across Ontario, with

b-c-police-watchdog-investigates-fatal-collision-involving-surrey-police-vehicle

B.C. police watchdog investigates fatal collision involving Surrey police vehicle

British Columbia’s police oversight agency has launched an investigation after a woman was struck and killed by a Surrey police vehicle late Sunday night. Surrey Police Service says the incident occurred at a busy intersection near 152 Street and 64 Avenue, an area that serves as a major commuter route for residents travelling through the city and into Metro Vancouver. Despite immediate medical assistance from first responders, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the woman’s identity, and further details about the circumstances leading up to the collis

IndiaDec 15, 2025

Bomb Threat Emails Sent to Around 11 Schools in Jalandhar, Police Launch Investigation

Authorities in Punjab are investigating bomb threat emails sent to approximately 11 schools in Jalandhar, prompting temporary closures and heightened security measures across the city. The threats were received by email early Monday morning, according to district officials. The incident comes just days after similar bomb threats were reported at several schools in Amritsar, raising concerns among parents, educators, and local authorities about student safety. In Jalandhar, school administrations alerted police after receiving the emails, leading to immediate search operations on school premise

Related News

B.C. braces for more flooding as heavy rain forecast across Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island

B.C. braces for more flooding as heavy rain forecast across Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island

The B.C. government is warning that heavy rain expected across parts of the province could lead to additional flooding in low-lying areas. Authorities say the Sumas and Chilliwack Rivers remain under flood warnings, though rainfall is anticipated to be less severe than last week’s storms that caused extensive flooding in Abbotsford. Environment Canada has issued "high impact" rainfall warnings for the Fraser and Skagit valleys, with some areas expected to receive up to 80 millimetres of rain, particularly in higher elevations. Officials cautioned that the situation is unpredictable and that

Three children die from flu-related complications in Ottawa, eastern Ontario as cases surge

Three children die from flu-related complications in Ottawa, eastern Ontario as cases surge

Public health officials in Ottawa and eastern Ontario say three children have died from complications linked to influenza over the past two weeks, underscoring growing concerns as flu activity rises sharply across the province. Medical officers of health for Ottawa and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit say the children were between the ages of five and nine. Officials describe the recent deaths as rare but serious, noting that influenza can lead to severe illness, particularly among young children. Health units report a rapid and significant increase in Influenza A activity across Ontario, with

B.C. police watchdog investigates fatal collision involving Surrey police vehicle

B.C. police watchdog investigates fatal collision involving Surrey police vehicle

British Columbia’s police oversight agency has launched an investigation after a woman was struck and killed by a Surrey police vehicle late Sunday night. Surrey Police Service says the incident occurred at a busy intersection near 152 Street and 64 Avenue, an area that serves as a major commuter route for residents travelling through the city and into Metro Vancouver. Despite immediate medical assistance from first responders, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the woman’s identity, and further details about the circumstances leading up to the collis

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital