Minimum wage increases by 15 cents in Nova Scotia - Action News
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Nova Scotia

Minimum wage increases by 15 cents in Nova Scotia

Minimum wage earners in Nova Scotia will make 15 cents more per hour as of today. For experienced workers that means $10.85 and $10.35 for inexperienced workers.

The minimum wage in all Atlantic provinces goes up today

Three nickles on a table.
Experienced workers' hourly rates increases to $10.85, from $10.70. Inexperienced workers' pay goes up to $10.35, from $10.20. (Anjuli Patil/CBC)

Nova Scotians earning minimum wage will be making a little bit more as of today.

Overall, employees who make minimum wage are earning a total of 15 cents more perhour.

Experienced workers' hourly rates increases to $10.85, from $10.70. Inexperienced workers' pay goes up to $10.35, from $10.20.

Those so-called inexperienced rates can be applied to an employee who has only worked for an employer for less than three months and has less than three months total experience inthe work he or she has been hired to do.

Not enough for a 'living wage'

On Saturday, a few people in downtown Halifax criticized the new minimum wage rate, saying it isn't high enough to make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

A woman on a street.
Janice Comeau lives in Yarmouth, N.S. (Brian MacKay/CBC)

"Well, I don't think it's enough, if I believe what's been written about a living wage, that gives people their dignity," said Janice Comeau, who was visiting Halifax from Yarmouth, N.S.

"I think that is supposed to be...somewhere up there for $20 [an hour]to live in the city of Halifax? So this doesn't make the mark."

'That's something at least'

Canadian money.
The minimum wage in each of the Atlantic provinces increased April 1. (The Canadian Press)

Claire Jansen-Faughtisfrom Toronto, but going to university and living in Halifax.

"I'm glad it's going up. I don't know if it's enough," said Jansen-Faught. "It never seems to be enough."

Atlantic Canada overview

A man and a woman stand on a sidewalk.
Keegan OShea and Brittany Matchett are from New Brunswick where the minimum wage increased by 35 cents. (Brian MacKay/CBC)

The minimum wage has also increased in the rest of Atlantic Canada.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the rate wentup by 25 cents to $10.75 per hour, from $10.50. It will increase again, to $11 per hour on Oct. 1, 2017.

Prince Edward Island's minimum wage increased by 25 cents to $11.25 per hour, from$11.

New Brunswick's minimum wage jumped the most in Atlantic Canada, to $11 per hour, from $10.65 35 cent boost overall.

'A good start'

That's good news for Keegan O'Sheawho was visiting Halifax from Miramichi, N.B. over the weekend.

"I mean, that's great," said O'Shea. "I work a minimum wage job myself so I think that's always nice to have a little more money, right?"

Brittany Matchett, also from Miramichi, said the minimum wage increase is "a step in the right direction."

"I think you need a lot more to see a difference, but it's a good attempt and a good start."