Planned hike will mark fourth consecutive annual increase
The province of Ontario will boost minimum wage to $11.60 on October 1, Labour Minister Kevin Flynn announced Friday.
It marks the fourth consecutive annual increase. As a result, full-time minimum wage earners in Ontario are now taking home $2,782 more per year than they did four years ago.
“We are committed to continuing to raise living standards for the hard-working people of Ontario,” Flynn said. “By ensuring that our province follows a consistent, predictable and impartial process of increasing the minimum wage, we are providing a more stable environment for businesses and more money in the pockets of our workers.”
“Ultimately, we’re building up a more prosperous economy so everyone in Ontario has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
The province is working on other files with income-boost potential: an update of the Fair Wage Policy, a review of pay equity legislation, a basic income pilot, and implementing free tuition for more than 200,000 students.
Improving the standard of living for workers and families is part of Ontario's plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives, Flynn said.
Changes to the minimum wage are announced by April 1 of each year, and take effect on October 1. This gives businesses and workers time to plan for any increases.
By October 2017, the general minimum wage will have increased by almost 70 per cent since 2004, when it stood at $6.85.
