The first of two increases this year in the minimum wage on PEI took effect on Monday. After Monday’s increase of 40-cents, the province’s minimum wage is now $15.40 per hour. Last October, the Province announced that it had accepted the annual minimum wage recommendations of the Employment Standards Board. That included a second increase in PEI’s minimum wage to $16 per hour on October 1st.
All four provinces in Atlantic Canada increased their hourly minimum wage on Monday. Newfoundland and Labrador saw the biggest jump with a 60 cent increase bringing its hourly rate to 15 dollars 60-cents – the highest minimum wage in the region. New Brunswick is next increasing its rate by 55 cents to 15 dollars 30-cents. The smallest increase is in Nova Scotia where a 20 cent jump brings that province’s rate to 15 dollars 20-cents.
The federal minimum wage increased as well on Monday, from $16.65 to $17.30 per hour. The adjustment reflects the 3.9% increase in Canada’s annual average Consumer Price Index for 2023 and is aligned with inflation.
