N.B. minimum wage now highest in Atlantic Canada, businesses weigh in

The minimum wage in New Brunswick increased to $13.75 today, making it the highest hourly rate in Atlantic Canada.

But with other Atlantic provinces making plans to raise their minimum wages more than once in the next year or two, the "highest hourly rate" title for New Brunswick may not last long.

The move to increase New Brunswick's minimum wage comes after Trevor Holder, the post-secondary education, training and labour minister, scrutinized the province's minimum wage, calling it "downright embarrassing."

That was when the minimum wage sat at $11.75 and was the lowest in the country.

Even with the adjustment, it's still dollars lower than the lowest "livable wage" in the province calculated by the Human Development Council, an organization concerned with social issues in New Brunswick.

Holder referred to the jump as a "one-time correction" that was needed to fix the low rate. 

He said the province will resume using a consumer price index, a measure of changes in the cost of living, to adjust the rate in 2023. 

Other Atlantic provinces are only small margins behind New Brunswick's minimum wage and have plans to increase their rates throughout the year. 

In Nova Scotia, the rate went from $13.35 to $13.60 today and will increase to $14.30 in April. October 2023 will be bring a 35-cent increase for the province, followed by a bump to $15 in October 2024. 

The rate in Newfoundland and Labrador increased by 50 cents to $13.70 today. It is expected to increase in April 2023 to $14.50 followed by another increased in October 2023 to $15. 

Prince Edward Island did not increase its rate today, but it was announced last week that the minimum wage will increase from $13.70 to $14.50 in January 2023. Another increase in October 2023 will bring the province's rate to $15 per hour. 

Holder said the 2022 increases in New Brunswick are expected to affect 15,500 minimum wage earners and 30,000 others who make more than the current minimum wage, but below $13.75 per hour.

Brad Leblanc, a co-founder for Love for Local New Brunswick, said there are "two sides to the coin" when it comes to the minimum wage increase. He said it's exciting for the working community when it comes to a minimum wage increase, but it can be challenging for small businesses. 

He said small businesses, on a good day, have very tight margins.