A local business owner says he has a mixed reaction to the increase in the Manitoba minimum wage that takes effect Sunday, October 1. The wage is going up 15 cents to $11.15 per hour. The increase is part of legislation introduced by the government in May that indexes minimum wage increases to inflation each year. It does include a provision that allows the government to freeze the minimum wage in the event of an economic downturn.

Bryan Bartel, the owner of MJ's Kafe in Steinbach, says he accepts the government's reasoning for the increase.

"I understand there are two sides to the argument. What I do really like about the increase is it's directly connected to inflation. I think that's the right track so it's not just done randomly. I'm okay with it, especially since it's connected to a reasoning behind it."

But Bartel says increases like this do end up being passed along to the consumer.

"We have to cover our costs. We run fairly small margins as is so, if something goes up, we definitely have to increase pricing. And, that's something that the whole industry will have to look at."

Vern Friesen, the owner of First Choice Convenience, agrees with Bartel that cost increases like this end up being passed along to the consumer.

"It affects everybody, not just me the business owner. It affects the consumer because everything will go up up alongside of it as well."