Deputy Premier Paul Robichaud confirmed the N.B. government will implement two planned minimum wage increases in 2011. (CBC)

Deputy Premier Paul Robichaud is insisting the Progressive Conservative government will move forward with the scheduled increases in the minimum wage.

Minimum hourly wages in New Brunswick are supposed to go up to $9.50 in April and $10 by September 2011.

Robichaud had to clarify the New Brunswick government's position after comments earlier Friday by Labour Minister Martine Coulombe in response to a question from Liberal MLA Chris Collins.

Collins asked whether the government will be committing to those minimum wage increases by 2011.

"We're going to ask the minimum wage commission to continue to examine minimum wages in the province on a regular basis in order to insure we are reflecting the situation in other Canadian provinces and territories," Coulombe answered.

The scheduled increases were set up by a non-partisan forum under the previous Liberal government as part of its poverty reduction plan.

Robichaud told reporters later on Friday afternoon that the minimum wage hikes are still the government's plan.

"We don't have any intention to change anything in the report. So basically, if the report says that we will increase the minimum wage, the minimum wage will be increased," Robichaud said.

"So far our intention is to go with the recommendations and recommendations show clearly that minimum wage will be increased."

This is the second time in two days that a cabinet minister has been forced to clarify their remarks over the government's commitment to implementing the recommendations found in the poverty reduction report.

Social Development Minister Sue Stultz said on Thursday that raising social assistance rates was not the answer to dealing with the province's poverty issue.

She said later on Thursday she meant that raising social assistance rates was not the only answer and the Tories would carry out the planned increases to the rates.