VANCOUVER—As labour groups praise the B.C. government for pushing the minimum wage up from $15.20 to $15.65 an hour, small businesses say the move will lead to unintended consequences, including cuts to their workforce and further price jumps for consumers amid rising inflation. “It’s been very difficult especially in an environment where the margins are slim to begin with,” Matti Rikkinen, owner of Robba Da Matti restaurants in Vancouver, said in a phone interview. “And then the province has created additional burdens upon us without any consultation, without any regard for the struggles that we’ve been going through these last two years.” Fiona Famulak, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, warns that B.C.’s small- and medium-size businesses will bear the brunt of the wage increase the most. While the chamber “strongly supports” fair wages, Famulak said it’s also concerned about the timing of the announcement. “At a time when …