Manitoba to hike minimum wage to $9

Manitoba's minimum hourly wage will rise by 25 cents to $8.75 next May and then to $9 by October, the province said Tuesday.

The NDP government of Premier Gary Doer has steadily increased the minimum hourly wage rate from $6 an hour in 1999 to $8.50 last April.

"A fair and balanced minimum wage must reflect the realities of today's business environment which is why we are staggering next year's wage increase to provide small businesses time to implement the change," said Manitoba Labour Minister Nancy Allan.

But the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce laments the decision to boost the minimum wage.

Chamber spokesperson Chuck Davidson said the rate just went up and another pair of hikes are a lot for small business owners to handle.

"The direction the economy is going, this isn't the perfect time for small businesses to have the extra pressure put on them," he said.

There are about 28,000 minimum wage earners in Manitoba, the government said in a news release, adding the 2009 levels will put Manitoba near the middle of the minimum wage rates among Canadian jurisdictions.