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Nova Scotia mulling an accelerated increase in minimum wage to $15 an hour by October

Nova Scotia’s Minimum Wage Review Committee has submitted its report with recommendations on the minimum wage rate, proposing a faster path to reaching $15 per hour.

The province said it will now seek input from community partners before making a decision on the accelerated recommendation.

“We thank the committee for its important work as the minimum wage rate impacts Nova Scotians in every region of the province,” said Jill Balser, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “As we decide on the path forward, it’s important that we take a balanced approach and consider the impacts to employers and employees, particularly as all Nova Scotians and businesses continue to deal with the rising cost of living and inflation.”

Proposed increases

The report includes the following recommendations on raising the minimum wage:

• an increase of 90 cents an hour to $14.50 on April 1
• an increase of 50 cents an hour to $15 on October 1
• starting April 1, 2024, the minimum wage would be adjusted on April 1 of each year by the percentage change in the projected annual national consumer price index (CPI) for the previous calendar year, plus an additional one per cent.

The Minimum Wage Review Committee, comprised of employee and employer representatives, submitted its report to the Minister in December.