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Media Relations

Ministry of Labour
778 698-8964

Backgrounders

Quotes regarding minimum wage increase

Irene Lanzinger, president, BC Federation of Labour –

“A fair minimum wage will be good for working families and good for the economy of B.C. We look forward to working with the B.C. government as we advocate for better wages, including increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour as soon as possible. We need to remember that the minimum wage in B.C. was frozen for 10 years by the previous government, and as a result many low-wage workers have suffered just trying to keep their heads above water.”

Mark von Schellwitz, vice-president, Western Canada, Restaurants Canada –

“Restaurants Canada supports reasonable minimum wage increases that ensure our employees keep up with the cost of living, are announced well in advance to give businesses time to adjust, and do not trigger large menu price increases or a reduction in entry-level employment. Restaurants Canada is pleased that the new government is proceeding with the previously announced 50 cents-an-hour minimum-wage increases that small businesses have been preparing for. We look forward to working with the new government on future minimum-wage increases that raise wages without costing entry-level employment opportunities.”