'Our government is committed to energizing the private sector'
New Brunswick is increasing its minimum wage to $11.70 per hour — up from $11.50 per hour — starting April 1.
“Our government is committed to energizing the private sector and creating the environment that our businesses need to succeed,” says Trevor Holder, minister of post-secondary education, training and labour. “We have established predictable minimum wage increases to benefit both employers and employees. This allows New Brunswick businesses to be better prepared for increases when they occur.”
The increase came after the province’s consumer index grew by 1.7 per cent in 2019, says the government.
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador harmonize the date of effect of any minimum wage increase to April 1.
Late in January, Nova Scotia announced that it is increasing its minimum wage to $12.55 per hour. Not-for-profit foodservice group Restaurants Canada opposed the development, saying it “caught small business operators completely off guard, leaving them with short notice to adapt their budgets for the rest of the year.”
