On Thursday, Premier John Horgan announced that the provincial government would be increasing minimum wage to $12.65 an hour.

Horgan revealed that the boost in wage would help 94,000 minimum-wage workers in the province and is the start of the provincial government’s commitment to reach $15.20 by 2021.

See also

• British Columbia minimum wage to increase to $15 per hour by 2021
• Seattle begins to phase in $15 minimum wage law
• BC Family Day being moved to third week of February

The increase is set to take place in June, with yearly increases occurring every June for the next three years.

It’s time #BC‘s lowest-paid workers get a fair wage. That’s why we’re increasing minimum wage to $15-an-hour by June 2021. https://t.co/2Tbm0CdNmu pic.twitter.com/3cl8msTVFj

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) February 8, 2018

The Premier’s sentiment was that “our lowest-paid workers deserve a fair shake and a fair wage,” but how does the rest of the province feel about the decision? Especially after 59,300 part-time jobs were lost in Ontario last January.

Why not let the market dictate wage instead forcing & punishing small business owners. Simple If businesses can’t find workers rates will go up it’s happening in my industry. Landlords will probably just increase rents knowing tenants are making more. Real Issue is Real Estate!

— joey V (@joestar76) February 8, 2018

It’s a good effort, but workers need that extra money now, not in 3.5 years #cndpoli #bcpoli

— DS88 (@vasilys_zaitsev) February 8, 2018

I’m a single parent making 16.50 and I have to leave BC because I can’t afford rent or groceries each month.

Poor BC’ers need help now, John; not in 3.5 years.

— Bri Jonathan (@BJSparkles) February 9, 2018

Make tax evaders pay income tax on off-shore breadwinner’s income.British Columbians’re paying 4 doctor & school costs of hundreds of thousands millionaire Investor Visa immigrants dependents (wives,children,grand-parents) not paying income taxes in🇨🇦& using 4N💵gifting schemes

— Evita Siu (@EvaSiu21) February 8, 2018

I’m all for that. But then how about other professional people like Education Assistants who make only 22-26 an hour(not much of new minimum wage). 24000 ish a year? How about a cost of living increase for us too? #bcpoli #bced

— Kristie (@mompavle) February 9, 2018

As expected, reactions to the news were a mixed bag. Some, however, were especially against the move.

By then we’ll all be living in the park and eating rodents for sustenance 🙄

— Brooklyn Fowler (@BrooklynVanPoli) February 8, 2018

So, pre election crumbs for working people struggling with increasingly unaffordable rent, poorer transit service and skyrocketing living costs? Cool dude.

— rob lennon (@magnumbounty) February 8, 2018

$20 an hour is a #LivingWage In #Vancouver. That minimum wage raise is 💩. $12.65?! kind of rent can a person afford?! You know why a coffee is $5 in Australia, $7 in Switzerland? Living wage. How are wages not balanced with cost of living, inflation & rent increases?!

— Sirius (@SiriusAdventure) February 9, 2018

Shame on you. At least match Alberta’s schedule of $15/hr starting Oct 1 and thereafter tie minimum wage to frequent, local cost-of-living increases.#cdnpoli #yow #abpoli #yyc #yeg #bcpoli #vanpoli #yyj #yvr #VictoriaBC #bced #SurreyBC #Kamloops #Okanagan #Kootenay #Cariboo

— Richard Ajabu (@richardajabu) February 9, 2018