Minimum wage increases in 5 provinces

In this July 22, 2015 file photo, supporters of a $15 minimum wage for fast food workers rally in front of a McDonald's in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Thousands of Canadians are receiving a pay bump on Thursday after the minimum wage rose in five provinces.

Minimum wage increases in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador have now gone into effect.

Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador upped theirs by 25-cents, bringing Ontario's rate to $11.25/hour and Newfoundland and Labrador's to $10.50/hour.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan have increased the rate by 30 cents an hour, bringing minimum wages in those provinces to $11/hour and $10.50/hour, respectively.

Albertan workers got the biggest raise. The hourly minimum wage in that province rose from $10.20/hour to $11.20.

Although some Albertans are pleased, premier Rachel Notley has faced criticism that her plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2018 will cost jobs.

Notley defended her plan on CTV Power Play Thursday, saying it will reduce inequality and help the economy.

“When you put more dollars into the pockets of lower income Albertans, you get a greater economic stimulus as a result,” she said.

“And prior to this minimum wage hike, we had the lowest minimum wage in the country, while we had the highest earnings in the country,” she added. “That wasn’t good.”

According to the Retail Council of Canada, New Brunswick now has the lowest minimum wage in the country, at $10.30/hour and Northwest Territories has the highest at $12.50/hour.