Minimum-wage earners will see their hourly pay increase next month for the first time since 2015.
Beginning Oct. 1, the minimum wage will increase from $11 an hour to $11.15 an hour.
The legislated increase has drawn criticism from both sides of the minimum-wage debate — including small businesses that would have preferred a freeze and labour advocates who argue a 15-cent increase still does not provide a living wage.
The increase is part of legislation introduced by the government in May that indexes minimum wage increases to inflation each year, but also includes a provision under which government can freeze the minimum wage in the event of an economic downturn.
