National minimum wage goes up

Business that are federally regulated will have to increase their minimum wage as of April 1st.

The base rate will go from $16.65 up to $17.30 an hour.

That represents a 3.9 percent raise, which is equivalent to a cost of living increase.

The federal government says the minimum wage hike will affect about 30,000 employees.

If the provincial or territorial minimum wage exceeds the federal rate, employers will have to pay the higher of the two.