March 29, 2024

Minimum wage set to rise to full $10.25 this week

The last set increase of B.C.’s minimum wage is set to come into effect on Tuesday. It'll go up to $ 10.25 an hour, up from $ 9.50. B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair says it's good for both workers and the economy. "But it's certainly not enough.  To live in the lower mainland, you need to earn at least $ 11.25 or $ … [Read more...]

Langley City Mayor warns of more RCMP wage hikes

As municipalities take more time to examine the new RCMP contract after surprise pay hikes, there might be another hit to their budgets coming. Langley City Mayor, and municipal observer to the RCMP contract talks, Peter Fassbender says another retroactive RCMP pay hike is still in the courts. "We don't know what the outcome of that is going to be … [Read more...]

Not all bad news regarding RCMP wage hike

Municipalities might not be on the hook for as much as they thought when it comes to the unexpected pay hikes for the Mounties.  Kelowna Director of Financial Services, Keith Grayston, says budget projections from E-Division did provide a warning, and a buffer, "There was a 1.5% amount that was included as a salary increase; there was an … [Read more...]

BC’s Attorney General is pressuring Ottawa for clarification of RCMP wage hike costs.

BC's Attorney General is pressing the federal government for more details on raises for the RCMP that could prevent some municipalities from signing on to a new 20 year contract with the force.  Shirley Bond says she understands that some mayors are reluctant to sign the 20 year deal before the April 30th deadline after being blindsided by … [Read more...]

The municipal observer to the RCMP contract talks is still waiting to hear from Ottawa over surprise RCMP wage hikes.

A week after sending a letter to the Federal Public Safety Minister, after surprise RCMP pay hikes, and there is still no answer from Ottawa.  Langley city Mayor, and municipal observer to the RCMP talks, Peter Fassbender says the message from mayors and the province is blunt.   He said "We have made it clear minister Bond and her staff … [Read more...]

Clark comments on surprise RCMP wage hikes

For her part, Premier Christy Clark says her heart is with municipalities now saddled with the cost of surprise RCMP wage increases.Clark admits the wage increases are tough for municipalities and property taxpayers to swallow, but notes the good news is, thanks to the new RCMP contract, this type of surprise will never happen again."This decision, … [Read more...]

The Mayor of Richmond says RCMP wage hikes will be topic #1 at meeting with mayors and the mounties.

The long weekend has done little to blunt the anger of mayors of lower mainland RCMP jurisdictions, who will meet April 20th to talk about the surprise RCMP wage hikes.   Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie says the raises could equal a $ 2-3 million hit to the city budget, or a 2% tax hike.  He said "At that meeting I am going to be wanting … [Read more...]

Bond confirms she didn’t know about RCMP wage hikes either

Attorney General Shirley Bond confirms her office was caught off guard about the new RCMP compensation package as well – and was told what was likely supposed to be reassuring news. In a statement to CKNW, Bond says when she did learn of the wage hikes, she had her staff get in touch with Ottawa right away. And she says the federal government … [Read more...]

The Mayor of Surrey is furious with unexpected RCMP wage hikes and the cost to her city.

The Mayor of Surrey, which has BC's largest RCMP detachment, is furious at being blindsided by the cost of raises for the Mounties.  Dianne Watts says it is a slap in the face after negotiations where mayors emphasized both transparency and cost containment to Ottawa.  Watts said "We relayed all of those issues to the federal government … [Read more...]

Falcon: no new money for wage hikes

He won't be adding any new money for public sector raises but the finance minister does say he's willing to look for other savings for a "modest" wage increase. Kevin Falcon's told the Vancouver Board of Trade he's confident there are ways to find some savings within current budgets that could result in a small wage boost for the public sector. … [Read more...]