The Prince George Chamber of Commerce supports the B.C. Liberal government's announced hike of the minimum wage on Wednesday to $10.25 by May 2012.
A recent survey of Prince George chamber members -- 128 of 830 members responded -- showed that 81 per cent were in favour of the minimum wage going up immediately or within six months.
Of those businesses which responded, more than half said the wage should go up to $10 or higher.
"I think it says that businesses that are members of the Prince George chamber care a lot about their employees and recognize that $8 is not enough to make a living," said chamber president Roy Spooner.
The minimum wage hike is newly-minted Premier Christy Clark first significant announcement.
At $8 an hour the wage is the lowest in Canada, but that will change when it's gradually pushed up in three stages starting on May 1.
The first jump will be 75 cents, and at that time the $6 an hour training wage will also be dropped, giving all hourly-paid employees the same general minimum wage.
Clark says the move could mean more than $4,000 additional dollars annually for full-time employees, but it must be done in phases to give businesses time to adjust.
There has been a growing call by unions and anti-poverty groups to increase the minimum wage, which hasn't been raised since the Liberals first took power in 2001.
Starting May first the minimum wage also goes up for liquor servers, but it will still be lower than the regular minimum wage, capping out at $9 dollars an hour.
With Canadian Press.
