Ontario Working for Workers by Raising the Minimum Wage

Third increase in one year will be effective October 1, 2022

TORONTO – Ontario is working for workers by raising the general minimum wage to $15.50 per hour, starting October 1, 2022. This eight per cent increase over one year will help workers keep up with rising costs and inflation.

“For many Ontarians, wages haven’t kept up with the increasing cost of living, making it harder than ever to make ends meet,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Ontario’s workers are the best anywhere, and they will be at the forefront of building the province. They deserve to have more money in their pockets and the increase we’re announcing today is one more way we are delivering for our workers.”

In January, Ontario raised the general minimum wage to $15 and removed the lower minimum wage for liquor servers. The government’s Working for Workers Act 2, if passed, would build on this action by expanding this minimum wage to digital platform workers for active hours worked – something no other province in Canada has done.

“Our government is leading the country with unprecedented changes that rebalance the scales and help workers earn bigger paycheques,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “Raising the minimum wage is part of our workers-first plan to give hundreds of thousands of families a hand up as we build a stronger economy that works for everyone.”

The next increase this fall, which is tied to the Consumer Price Index, means that workers earning the general minimum wage and working 40 hours per week would see their annual pay rise by $1,768. Liquor servers who work 40 hours per week would see an annual raise of $5,512.

“Raising the minimum wage is part of Ontario’s plan to fight for our workers and build a future where our province remains the top place in the world to work, live and raise a family,” said Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.

It follows legislation Minister McNaughton recently introduced that would include, if passed, foundational rights for digital platform workers, requirements for employers to disclose their electronic monitoring of employees and for businesses in high-risk settings to have Naloxone kits on hand, and several red tape reductions to encourage out-of-province workers to help fill the generational labour shortage.