Quebec minimum wage to go up to $11.25

Quebec's minimum wage workers will see a slightlybigger paycheque starting this spring, but that may not be enough, according to some labour unions.

The minimum wage will go up by 50 cents onMay 1, 2017, bringing the total to $11.25 per hour.

Labour Minister DominiqueViensaid Thursdayit will be the first of four annual wage increases, which will bring minimum wage up to $12.45 per hour by 2020.

She said the province carefully considered the increases with the goal of "establishing a balance between fair wages for workers and the capacity of Quebec business to pay those salaries."

According to Vien, the following are thewage increases the province intents toput in place over the coming years:

• 2018: 50 cents.
• 2019: 35 cents.
• 2020: 35 cents.

She added that, depending on the economic situation of the province, the increases may change.

• $15 minimum wage would help women climb out poverty, Quebec activists say

Approximately 350,600 Quebecers making minimum wagewill benefit from the increase.

Viensaid that, depending on the hours worked, the wage increase will bring workers an additional$254 to $655 to their annual net income.

"It's fundamental that working for minimum wage is always more profitable than social assistance," said Viens, who believes the wage increase will help Quebecers rely less on aid programs.

Workers who make minimum wage with tips will also see a 25 cent salary increase, bringing the total to $9.45 perhour. Vien said the government also intends to increase their salaries up until 2020.

No $15 per hour minimum wage in sight

In the fall, labour unions and community groups launched a campaign that called on the province to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour.

• Quebecersrally for $15 minimum wage in Montreal

Both thePartiQubcoisandQubecSolidairehave also spoken up in favour of the idea.

Viensaid it's not realistic.

"We were clear and we were frank, we cannot increase the minimum wage by 40 per cent in one shot," saidVien.

"If we would have done that, it would have been a catastrophic action. We've spoken with employers and labour groups, and I think they understand that."

Louise Chabot, president of the CSQ, a labour federationwhich has been lobbying for a $15 per hour minimum wage, called theannouncement "extremely disappointing."

"It doesn't make sense that in Quebec right now we have people living belowthe poverty line," she said.

'Significant impact on small businesses'

The plannedwage increases havesome small business owners concerned.

"It will have a significant impact on small businesses across Quebec," saidSimon Gaudreault, director of economic affairs for Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

Gaudreault said small businesses will need some financial help to be able to cope with the increases.

He believes that employers will have to increase wages for all their workers, since non-minimum wage employees will know their colleaguesreceived a raise.

Quebec Finance MinisterCarlos Leitao said the province is already providing financial aid to small businesses and will continue to do so. He added that the assistance can be used to pay for things like payroll taxes.

The decision to increase the minimum wage was made in consultation with labour and business groups, he said.

"We came to the conclusion that our path [with the increases] is sustainable and is within the capacity of businesses," said Leitao.

TheQuebec Employers Council said it welcomes, in part, the wage increase since low-incomeQuebecerswillbenefit. However, the council saidit'sconcerned about the impactthe increase willhave on businesses with small profit margins.