Press Release
Ontario is continuing to boost income for workers across the province by increasing the general minimum wage for the fourth-straight year, which will bring the wage up to $11.60 this fall.
The increase will come into effect on Oct. 1 and continues the government’s efforts to ensure more workers and their families are able to benefit from the province’s growing economy.
As a result, full-time minimum wage earners in Ontario now are taking home $2,782 more per year than they did just four years ago.
“We are committed to continuing to raise living standards for the hard-working people of Ontario,” said Labour minister Kevin Flynn.
“By ensuring that our province follows a consistent, predictable, and impartial process of increasing the minimum wage, we are providing a more stable environment for businesses and more money in the pockets of our workers,” he noted.
“And, ultimately, we’re building up a more prosperous economy so everyone in Ontario has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
The increase builds on progress Ontario already is making to boost income for workers, including:
•updating its Fair Wage Policy to ensure government contract workers continue to receive fair wages and benefits;
•reviewing pay equity legislation to help close the gender wage gap;
•moving forward with a basic income pilot, which will provide a minimum income level to help people meet their needs; and
•implementing free tuition for more than 210,000 students and increasing supports for apprentices.
Changes to the minimum wage are announced by April 1 of each year, and take effect on Oct. 1.
This gives businesses and workers time to plan for any increases.
By October, the general minimum wage will have increased by almost 70 percent since 2004, when it stood at $6.85.
The minimum wage remained frozen between 1996 and 2003.
This will be the 11th minimum wage increase since 2004.
Special minimum wage rates that apply to liquor servers, students under 18, hunting and fishing guides, and homeworkers also will increase at the same time.
The latest rates are the result of changes to legislation that were passed in 2014 to tie minimum wage increases to Ontario’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation.
The move was a result of a recommendation by the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel.
The industries employing the most minimum wage earners are accommodation and food, retail trade, and information, culture, and recreation.
