British Columbia Federation of Labour

Victoria-Tomorrow British Columbia will become the lowest minimum wage province in all of Canada as New Brunswick raises its minimum wage to $8.25.

A group of young workers gathered in front of the provincial legislature called BC's minimum wage freeze an embarrassment.

"We're constantly told BC is the ‘best place on earth' but that isn't the case for young workers in our province," said Jeff Parker, Co-Chair of the B.C. Federation of Labour's Young Worker Committee. "Instead of best place, it's last place, when it comes to minimum wage."

"Whether it's housing and transit costs or tuition fees, the cost of living for young workers increases every year, and it's an embarrassment that our minimum wage hasn't kept up."

"To add insult to injury, now the provincial government is asking young workers to pay a new HST on services they can barely afford," added Co-Chair Jackie Woodley. "Eight dollars doesn't get you very far as it is and now the government expects young workers to stretch that even further."

"Every excuse Gordon Campbell and his government used to refuse to increase the minimum wage have been put to rest by their HST plan," Woodley said. "Eight years of waiting is too long, we need a minimum wage increase now."

The young workers are approaching politicians and visitors to the Legislative Buildings in Victoria, asking them to sign a petition supporting a $10 minimum wage.

Recent polling conducted by Ipsos Reid, indicates 75 percent of British Columbians support increasing the minimum wage from $8.00 to $10.00.

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For more information contact: Evan Stewart 604-430-1421.