December 16, 2021
The Ontario government announced plans to raise the provincial minimum wage to $15 per hour. 

The Ontario government introduced legislation to increase minimum wage as the cost of living has increased considerably throughout the past several months. However, in many cases, wages have not kept pace.

If successful, the legislation would see the minimum wage increase by 65 cents per hour, and come into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

“Ontario’s workers have been the unsung heroes of this pandemic, as they’ve stocked shelves, kept our supply chain moving and helped so many of us enjoy a meal among family and friends at a local restaurant,” said Premier Doug Ford, who announced the increase on Nov. 2. “When we asked labour leaders what their priorities were, increasing the minimum wage was at the top of the list. As the cost of living continues to go up, our government is proud to be working for workers, putting more money into their pockets by increasing the minimum wage.”

Students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session, or work during a school break or summer holidays would see an increase from $13.50 to $14.10 an hour. Homeworkers, who do paid work out of their own homes for employers, would see an increase from $15.80 an hour to $16.50 an hour.

From January to August 2021, there were about 763,500 workers at or below the proposed general minimum wage of $15 in Ontario. A full-time worker making the general minimum wage could see an annual earnings increase of $1,350 in 2022 under the proposed legislation.