Reminder of minimum wage increase

Creating jobs for Islanders -

As announced last fall, Prince Edward Island’s minimum wage will remain the highest in Atlantic Canada when it increases by 30 cents to $11.55 per hour on April 1, 2018.

“Business confidence in Prince Edward Island is high, our economy is the fastest growing in the region and more Islanders are working,” said Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Sonny Gallant. “Given this historic growth, it is very important that all Islanders benefit from improved economic conditions. Increasing the minimum wage is one way to ensure more money goes back into the pockets of Islanders.”

Prince Edward Island’s gross-domestic product increased 2.3 per cent year over year. PEI’s employment growth was the second highest in Canada in 2017, up 3.1 per cent over 2016. This resulted in 2200 more Islanders working last year. Nearly 84 per cent of employed Islanders were working full-time in 2017 and full-time employment has continued to grow in 2018.

The minimum wage increase was first announced in November 2017, in line with government’s commitment to give employers plenty of notice of these increases. The Employment Standards Board recommended the increase based on economic factors in the province and on input received from the public. The Employment Standards Board will review the minimum wage this summer and any further changes to the minimum wage will be announced in late 2018 and put into effect in April 2019.

More information on the minimum wage and other employment standards is available at Employment Standards

Media contact:
Katie MacDonald
katiemacdonald@gov.pe.ca

General Inquiries

Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population
5th Floor North, Shaw Building
105 Rochford Street
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8

Phone: 902-368-4250
Fax: 902-368-4242

DeptWALP@gov.pe.ca