Federal minimum wage, taxes on alcohol Here's what's changing in Canada April 1

Federal minimum wage, taxes on alcohol Here's what's changing in Canada April 1

Several major changes that could impact your wallet are on their way, some of which take effect April 1.

The federal minimum wage is set to increase by $1.10—from $15.55 per hour to $16.65—and you may end up paying more for gas and alcohol as of Saturday.

MINIMUM WAGE
The minimum wage increase is meant to keep up with inflation and is based on the consumer price index, which rose 6.8 per cent last year, according to the federal government.
ALCOHOL TAX
The excise tax on alcohol was set to increase by 6.3 per cent April 1, which would have been the largest hike in more than 40 years. However, the feds instead temporarily capped it at two per cent after outcry from microbrewers and distillers.
CARBON PRICE
Expect to pay more at the pumps when you fill up your vehicle starting Saturday, as the federal government’s carbon pricing increases from $50 per tonne to $65 per tonne. The Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation says that change will amount to 14.31 cents per litre of gas, up from 11.05 cents per litre.

B.C. NATURAL GAS PRICES
People living in British Columbia will soon see a break on their natural gas bill starting April 1.

After getting approval from the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), FortisBC is lowering the amount it charges for natural gas.

FortisBC will charge $4.159 per gigajoule for gas, $1 less than its previous rate of $5.159. The price will remain in effect until June 30.

FortisBC changes what it charges for natural gas every fiscal quarter (with BCUC approval) to reflect the cost of acquiring natural gas at market-based prices.

People in the Lower Mainland will save about $7.50 every month on their bill on average, or about seven per cent, according to FortisBC estimates. In northeast B.C. around Fort Nelson, people could save an average of $10.40.

ONTARIO RECYCLING FEE
If you live in Ontario and like to drink juice or pop, you’ll be paying a bit more for the sweet beverages starting April 1 because of a new province-wide recycling program.

Certain non-alcoholic drinks may have a “container recycling fee” added when you buy them going forward.

The fee is being imposed by the Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA), which is comprised of large waste producers such as Coca Cola, Loblaw Companies Ltd., and Nestle Canada as well as several others.
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