But rate lower than that promised by Liberals
Ontario says it will be raising the general minimum wage to $15.50 per hour as of Oct. 1, 2022.
This represents an eight-per-cent increase over one year to help workers keep up with rising costs and inflation, says the government.
“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.
Just last week, Ontario Liberals promised to increase the minimum wage to $16 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2023 to help the more than 700,000 workers who, it says, were denied three years of increases to their wages.
A $15-per-hour federal minimum wage for Canada took effect on Dec. 29, 2021.
In October 2022, Ontario’s new minimum wage rates will be:
- General: $15.50 per hour, up from $15 per hour
- Students under 18: $14.60 per hour, up from $14.10 per hour
- Hunting, fishing and wilderness guides: $77.60 per day, up from $75, when working less than five consecutive hours in a day; and $155.25 per day, up from $150.05, when working five or more hours in a day
- Homeworkers (those who do paid work out of their own homes for employers): $17.05 per hour, up from $16.50 per hour
As a provincial election approaches in June, both the Liberals and Conservatives have been busy with announcements.
The Ontario government has recommended the creation and recognition of the “dependent contractor” category for gig or platform workers in the app-based space. It is also requiring most employers to outline a “right to disconnect” for employees and banning the use of non-compete clauses.
On the health front, the Ontario Liberals also claim they will provide 10 paid sick days for all workers — something that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously promised for Canadians. The Ontario Liberal Party also promised to implement a four-day workweek if elected.
