The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
On the same day Manitoba's minimum wage will increase, drivers will start paying a little bit extra to renew their driver's licenses. The Manitoba government has announced a five dollar increase to renewal fees to begin Thursday, April 1. Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux told reporters the extra cash is required to offset the cost of new transportation programs and improvements. Also effective April 1, the province will boost the minimum wage up to $7 per hour, an increase of 25 cents. "Manitoba's economy is growing and this raise in the minimum wage will help ensure the benefits of that growth are shared more fairly," said Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan in a news release. For full-time minimum wage workers, the increase will mean an additional $500 per year before taxes. The boost will see full-time workers make at least $14,000 per year before taxes. The last increases, both 25 cents per hour each, came in April of 2002 and 2003. "Our approach has been to adjust the rate gradually and in smaller increments," said Allan. "This implementation method is more fair and manageable for an employer while still allowing us to increase the purchasing power of low income earners." Manitoba will have the sixth-highest minimum wage in Canada once the new rate kicks in. As of April 1, 2004, Nunavut will have the highest rate at $8.50 per hour. It will be followed by Northwest Territories ($8.25); B.C. ($8); Quebec; ($7.30); Yukon ($7.20); Ontario ($7.15); Manitoba ($7.00); Saskatchewan ($6.65); Prince Edward Island ($6.50); Nova Scotia ($6.50); New Brunswick ($6.00); Newfoundland and Labrador ($6.00); and Alberta ($5.90).
