Minimum Wage Review Reports
Sections 5(1) to 5(3) of the Employment Standards Act, which mandates the board to review the minimum wage each year, reads as follows:
5. (1) The board, subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, shall by order
(a) fix one minimum wage for all employees;
(b) fix the minimum wage upon an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or other basis;
(c) specify when and under what conditions deductions may be made from the wages of an employee, and what notification the employee should be given thereof prior to such deduction;
(d) fix the maximum amount, if any, that may be deducted from the wages of an employee where the employer furnishes to the employee, board, lodging, uniforms, laundry or other services, and prescribe the notification required to be given to the employee prior to such deduction, and may exempt any employee or group of employees from the operation of any order made under clause(c) or (d).
(2) The board shall meet at least once a year to review the Minimum Wage Order and, in conducting a review, shall solicit and consider written and in-person submissions from the public.
(3) In advising the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the board shall issue a report taking into account the social and economic effects of the minimum wage rates in the province and shall consider among other matters
(a) any cost of living increase since any previous order affecting the cost to an employee of purchasing the necessities of life, including housing, food, clothing, transportation and health care and supplies;
(b) economic conditions within the province and the concept of reasonable return on private investment; and
(c) measures of poverty and the ability of an employee to maintain a suitable standard of living, and shall make this report public on the publication of a Minimum Wage Order in the Royal Gazette.
2019 Report