 We are leading Canada. We are number one in economic growth. We are targeted to grow it twice the national average We've had four consecutive balanced budgets. British Columbia created 72,000 jobs in the last year and We've had record infrastructure investments without going into deficit We have been training people to get a better job and we've got the resources That we need in place to be able to do all those other things that are so important in creating a fair society And we want to make sure that everybody shares in that dividend There is a reason to balance the budget and that so that we can create a fairer more just society And so that's why we're raising the minimum wage over and above the consumer price index This year it will be a 40 cent increase effective September 15th And then a further increase next year of up to about 40 cents as well a base of 30 cents Plus the CPI which would put us at about third for minimum wage across the country That means that that British Columbians would be earning about $11 and 25 cents if they're working on minimum wage it means about $1400 more in your pocket if you have a full-time minimum wage job and That'll make that will add up to then the sixth separate minimum wage increase since I became Premier But in addition to that we do want to continue to support small business So I want to reaffirm today our commitment to lower the small business tax rate from 2.5 percent to 1.5 percent That's a reduction in small business tax of 40 percent Because it's one thing to raise the minimum wage and that's important. That's why we've done it So many times since I become Premier, but it's also Important that people are able to find a job and that means that we need to continue to support small business