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Minimum wage increasing in multiple provinces

Jan 09, 2023

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Most jurisdictions are working towards a $15 minimum wage

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Workers in multiple Canadian provinces will receive higher wages in 2023

Will these increases lead to higher inflation?

Yes, said Desmond Sobool, principal economist with Farm Credit Canada.

“Higher wages contribute to higher inflation,” he told Farms.com. “There’s a real probability the bank of Canada has to increase (interest) rates again to try to get inflation down.”

Here’s an overview of where minimum wage will be going up across Canada in 2023.

In Manitoba, for example, the minimum wage will rise from $13.50 to $14.15 per hour on April 1. Manitoba also projects another minimum wage increase, this one on Oct. 1, to bring the minimum hourly rate to $15 per hour.

The minimum wage in Saskatchewan will go up too.

On Oct. 1, the minimum wage will go up by one dollar to $14 per hour. Saskatchewan plans to bring its minimum wage to $15 per hour in October 2024.

Continuing east, the minimum wage in Nova Scotia will go up twice this year.

The hourly rate will increase by 70 cents to $14.30 per hour as of April 1, 2023. Workers will see another increase of 35 cents on Oct. 1, bringing the minimum wage to $14.65 per hour.

Minimum wage workers in P.E.I. will also see their wages increase.

Workers in that province received an 80-cent raise on Jan. 1, to $14.50 per hour. Another 50-cent increase is expected on Oct. 1, to bump up the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Workers in Newfoundland and Labrador will also receive two wage increases in 2023.

On April 1, the minimum wage will go up to $14.50 per hour. And six months later, on Oct. 1, the minimum wage will increase again to $15 per hour.

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm