Explanatory Note

This Bill amends the Employment Standards Act by increasing the minimum wage and providing that it be reassessed on a yearly basis to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index. The Bill also reduces the small business tax rate by one percent through an amendment to the Income Tax Act.

BILL M 214 – 2007
MINIMUM WAGE FAIRNESS ACT, 2007

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 Section 16 of the Employment Standards Act, R.S.B.C. 1996 c. 113 is repealed and replaced with the following:

Minimum Hourly Wage

16 (1) An employer must pay any employee at least the prescribed minimum hourly wage as set out in this section.

(2) Beginning May 1, 2007, the minimum hourly wage shall be $10 per hour.

(3) Where the minimum hourly wage prescribed by this section conflicts with another minimum wage under this Act or its regulations, an employer must pay the higher of the two wages.

(4) Beginning on May 1, 2008, the minimum hourly wage shall be adjusted to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index on a yearly basis.

(5) An employer must not, directly or indirectly, withhold, deduct or require payment of all or part of an employee's wages in a pay period to comply with subsection (1) in relation to any other pay period.

2 Section 16 of the Income Tax Act, R.B.S.C. 1996 c. 215 is amended in subsection (1)(a) by striking out "4.5%" and substituting "3.5%".

 
Explanatory Note

This Bill amends the Employment Standards Act by increasing the minimum wage and providing that it be reassessed on a yearly basis to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index. The Bill also reduces the small business tax rate by one percent through an amendment to the Income Tax Act.