Archived News Releases

Manitoba Minimum Wage To Increase April 1, 2008

– – –
New Rate Will Be $8.50

Effective April 1, Manitoba's minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $8.50 an hour, to help
lower-income earners and help make work a more rewarding experience, Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced today.

 

“This government has made improvements to the minimum wage on an incremental basis to bolster the purchasing power of minimum wage earners and improve the lives of working people and their families while respecting the ability of employers to pay,” said Allan.

 

The minimum wage rate has increased from $6 an hour in 1999 with increments of 25 cents an hour every year between 1999 and 2005.  There were two more staged increases in 2006 and 2007 of
35 cents and 40 cents respectively which brought the rate to $8 an hour. 

 

“This will mark the eighth time since 1999 that our government has increased the minimum wage, which fell behind the real cost of living as a result of a lack of increases during the 1990s,” added the minister. “We are also making significant tax reductions for businesses and individuals in order to ensure that Manitoba remains an affordable place to live, work, raise a family and operate a business.”

 

Allan noted that with the change taking effect April 1, the rate will have increased by 42 per cent since 1999. During that same period, the small business tax rate will have decreased by 75 per cent.

 

Allan noted that on July 1, 2008, the corporate income tax rate will be reduced to 13 per cent from
14 per cent and on Jan. 1, 2008, the small business tax rate will be cut again to two per cent from three per cent. With this further reduction, Manitoba will go from having the second-highest small business tax rate in Canada in 1999 to the lowest rate in 2008. The Workers Compensation Board  average assessment rate will also decrease effective Jan. 1, 2008.

 

This increase in the minimum wage will maintain Manitoba’s position near the middle of rates among Canadian jurisdictions.

- 30 -