Manitoba's minimum wage will jump to $9 an hour by next October.
The NDP government announced Tuesday the hourly minimum will increase to $8.75 from the current $8.50 on May 1, followed by another 25-cent raise on Oct. 1.
Labour Minister Nancy Allan said the new minimum wage is reasonable and makes Manitoba an affordable place in which to live and operate a business.
But the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the new rate will hurt an already ailing business community.
Spokesman Shannon Martin said when the new rate takes effect, the minimum wage will have jumped by 50 per cent over nine years.
