January 26, 2023
Quebec’s minimum wage will increase to $15.25, Labour Minister Jean Boulet announced Wednesday. It’s a pay bump of $1, meaning a minimum wage worker who works 40 hours a week will make an additional $2,000 a year, roughly. At 7.02 per cent, it’s Quebec’s most significant wage increase since 1995.
The new minimum wage will come into effect on May 1, 2023.
Benjamin Rousse, policy analyst at the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), told CTV News the 7.02 per cent increase in minimum wage will have a “significant negative effect” on small-business owners.
He noted that business owners are already grappling with other issues, including inflation and the labour shortage. He said the best way to both raise wages and keep small businesses afloat is for governments to reduce tax burdens.
