The provincial government is proposing to postpone the forthcoming minimum wage increase until April 1, 2012 saying it has heard from small and medium sized businesses that they need time to adjust to the recent successive minimum wage hikes. The move is being applauded by Erin McGrath-Gaudet of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in New Brunswick who argues the minimum wage has gone up too much, too fast.
The Alward Government also announcing it will explore the idea of a two-tiered minimum wage.
The minimum wage rose to $9.50 per hour in 2011 from $8 in April 2009, an increase of nearly 19 per cent in two years. With the six month delay, it will reach $10 per hour by next April.
