Quebec's minimum wage not increasing, finance minister says

Quebec's finance minister says $10.75 per hour is an appropriate minimum wage and he doesn't see the need to increase it right now.

The comments come after a protest was held in Montreal calling for the minimum wage to increase to $15.

• Quebec's minimum wage rises 20 cents, to $10.75 an hour

About 150 people, including representatives of the Quebec Labour Federation, took to the streets duringthe World Social Forum on Friday.

In response, Carlos Leitao told reporters the $15 number was "arbitrary"and that it didn't make much sense.

"As an economist, what I want is a relationship between the minimum wage and the median wage," he said.

"Whether it is $15, $14, $13 or $17, it depends on the reality of each state, each jurisdiction. The minimum wage in Quebec doesn't need to be the exact same as in Ontario, the United States or elsewhere."

Leitao says Quebec'sminimum wage will rise over time, but he sees no need to accelerate the process.