Ontario to increase minimum wage
The Ontario government has announced that the minimum wage will be increased to $16.55 an hour from October 1, 2023. This increase represents a 6.8 per cent pay raise for low-income workers, continuing the government’s commitment to annual predictable increases to help families cope with the rising cost of living. With over 942,400 workers earning $16.55 per hour or below in 2022, the majority of whom are women, this increase will benefit nearly a million workers.
Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Monte McNaughton, said that this increase was a fair and balanced approach that will give workers more money in their pockets to support their families and build a stronger Ontario for everyone.
The Working for Workers Act, 2023, has also been introduced, which, if passed, will provide groundbreaking protections for millions of workers in Ontario.
In addition to the general minimum wage increase, the special minimum wage rates will also increase for students under the age of 18, homeworkers, and hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides.
This increase makes Ontario’s minimum wage the highest of any province in the country, with Quebec at $14.25 an hour, British Columbia at $15.65 an hour, and Alberta at $15.00 an hour.
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