Ontario’s lowest-paid workers will see a boost to their paycheques next week as the province raises its minimum wage to $17.60 per hour, up from the current $17.20. The change takes effect Wednesday, October 1, and is tied to Ontario’s Consumer Price Index, which rose 2.4 per cent over the past year.
According to the province, the increase makes Ontario’s minimum wage the second highest in Canada. For a full-time worker logging 40 hours per week, the adjustment amounts to as much as $835 more annually. Officials say the automatic yearly increase under the Employment Standards Act ensures wages keep pace with inflation and helps protect workers against rising living costs.
Back in 2018, Ontario’s minimum wage sat at $14 per hour, underscoring the steady climb over the past seven years. As of next week, thousands of workers across the province will begin seeing the new rate reflected in their pay.