Toronto 
In a move to bolster the earnings of workers, the Ontario government announced an increase in the minimum wage to $17.20 per hour, starting October 1, 2024.
This 65-cent hike represents a 3.9% adjustment aligned with the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), placing Ontario’s minimum wage as the second highest in Canada, closely trailing British Columbia’s $17.40 per hour.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is helping nearly one million workers earn more money for themselves and their families,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development in a news release.
“We are providing businesses with certainty and predictability by announcing this annual wage increase six months in advance, while also helping families offset the rising cost of living, so that Ontario continues to be the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
Ontario say this wage increase will substantially benefit workers in sectors predominantly earning at or below this new threshold, such as retail trade and accommodation and food services, which together constitute nearly 60% of these workers. Specifically, a full-time worker on minimum wage can expect an annual income boost of up to $1,355.
The news release states, “This minimum wage increase builds on the government’s Working for Workers Four Act, 2024, which provides ground-breaking protections for millions of workers in Ontario, including strengthening wage protections for restaurant, hospitality and service workers by clarifying that employers can never deduct an employee’s wages in the event of a dine and dash, supporting injured workers and banning requirements for Canadian work experience in job postings – a first in Canada.”
The 2023 Living wage in Ontario varies from $25.05 (highest) per hour in the Greater Toronto Area to $18.65 per hour (lowest) in Southwest Ontario.
