Western province announces minimum wage boost

British Columbia will raise the minimum wage from $16.75 to $17.40 per hour as of June 1, 2024. This represents a 3.9 per cent increase, consistent with B.C.’s average rate of inflation in 2023, according to B.C.’s government.

The increase will make B.C.’s minimum wage the second highest in Canada, behind Yukon, and aligns with government priorities to help reduce poverty, make life more affordable and build a strong and fair economy for the province, according to the press release.

The alternate minimum rates, for residential caretakers, live-in home-support workers and camp leaders, will also see a 3.9 per cent increase on June 1. On Dec. 31, 2024, the minimum piece rates for 15 hand-harvested crops will also increase by the same percentage.

B.C. has gone from having one of the lowest minimum wages in the country to one of the highest, said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour.

“We made a commitment to tie minimum-wage increases to the rate of inflation to prevent B.C.’s lowest-paid workers from falling behind. And today, we are enshrining that commitment into law.”

Amendments to Bill 2 mean that future increases to all minimum wage rates will be determined by the previous year’s average inflation rate for the province, with most wage rates increasing on June 1 of each year. Agricultural piece rates are the exception and will increase on Dec. 31 of each year, according to the press release.

In 2023, B.C. increased the minimum wage by 6.9%, which was the increase in the cost of living in the province in 2022.

Minimum wage by province

The minimum wage currently varies across provinces from a low of $14.00 in Saskatchewan to a high of $17.59 in Yukon (as of April 1).