The minimum wage set by British Columbia will be the highest in the country with the increase to $7.60 expected to come into effect on November 1.

     "British Columbia's hardworking minimum wage earners need a pay increase now to make ends meet," says Premier Uijal Dosanjh in his announcement of the increase, which will bring B.C.'s minimum wage up from $7.15 per hour. "We need to make sure everybody participates in the economic resurgence in British Columbia."

     Presently, minimum wage in Ontario is set at $6.85, and is at the high-end of the scale with Quebec at $6.90, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut at $6.50 and Manitoba and Saskatchewan at $6. The Maritime provinces rest lower on the scale, between $5.75 and $5.50 per hour.

Minimum wage levels across Canada
British Columbia$7.60* Yukon$7.20 Quebec$6.90 Ontario$6.85 Northwest Territories$6.50 Nunavut$6.50 Manitoba$6.00 Saskatchewan$6.00 Alberta$5.90 New Brunswick$5.75 Nova Scotia$5.60 P.E.I.$5.60 Newfoundland$5.50 * As of November 1, 2000