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Minimum wage to jump to $9

Manitoba’s minimum wage will go up to $9 an hour by the end of 2009, the province said today.

The minimum rate goes up by 25 cents May 1 and another 25 cents Oct. 1.

The staggered increase will be the ninth hike in a row.

The Doer government has steadily increased the rate from $6 an hour in 1999 to make the minimum rate more reflective of the cost of living and business tax cuts. Since 1999, the small business tax rate has been cut by 75 per cent and the corporate income tax has been reduced by nearly 30 per cent.

The last increase took effect last April when the rate went up to $8.50 from $8 an hour.

Shannon Martin, Manitoba director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the hike was not surprising.

"The government essentially waited until Christmas eve to make this announcement, hoping that any voices of dissension would get lost in the holiday din," he said. " Considering the turbulent economic times we find ourselves in, it is unfortunate the government chose to increase minimum wage to a level that simply can’t be justified."

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