Minimum wage rises in 5 provinces today

Thousands of workers in five provinces across Canada get a raise on Thursday.

Effective Oct. 1, the minimum wage goes up in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Alberta workers will see the biggest jump, with an additional $1 an hour, as the rate increases from $10.20 to $11.20.

Since June, the province had been tied with Saskatchewan for the lowest minimum wage in the country.

But with Saskatchewan raising its minimum pay from $10.20 per hour to $10.50, New Brunswick’s $10.30 an hour now becomes the lowest in Canada — at least until 2017, when it pledges to increase the rate to $11.

Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador are both increasing their minimum hourly wages by 25 cents on Thursday, bringing Ontario’s rate up to $11.25 and Newfoundland and Labrador’s up to $10.50.

Manitoba’s minimum wage is rising from $10.70 to $11.

The Northwest Territories retains the highest minimum wage in the country: $12.50 an hour. It’s a status N.W.T. hasn’t held for long.  A $2.50 an hour increase that took effect June 1 propelled the territory’s minimum wage from the lowest to the highest in Canada.

Some provinces also have lower minimum wages for workers who serve liquor, students under age 18, or if workers get tips.

~cbc.ca