Living wages required for basic lifestyle in 23 Ontario regions revealed
A new report has revealed how much money people need to make in 23 Ontario regions in order to afford a basic lifestyle.
According to the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN), people residing in Toronto need to make $22.08 per hour, which is the most in Ontario, to afford the basics.
The OLWN says a living wage is how much you need to make in order to cover the costs of living in your community, including food, clothes, shelter, transportation, child care, medical care, recreation and a modest vacation.
It does not include things like paying off debts, homeownership, saving for your children's education or any other type of emergency fund.
A cheque from the government is on tap for some Ontarians this week.
"Our 2021 calculations now take into account a weighted average between a family of four, single parent with one child and a single adult," the OLWN said in their report.
Halton Region requires the second highest living wage in the province at $20.75 per hour.
In Peel Region, people need to make $19.80 per hour to afford a basic lifestyle.
According to the report, the lowest living wage required to afford a basic lifestyle is in Sault Ste. Marie, where $16.20 per hour is needed.
CTV News Toronto learned Monday that Ontario plans to increase minimum wage to $15 per hour on Jan. 1
Minimum wage in Ontario is currently $14.35 per hour.
After being elected in 2018, the Ford government scrapped legislation that would have pushed the minimum wage to $15.
On Monday, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath asked Premier Doug Ford in Question Period about the cost of living and minimum wage.
"The premier, billionaires, the premier’s buddies, they never need to worry about putting food on the table or putting a roof over the head of their kids," Horwath said.
"Workers have lost out on $5,300," Horwath said.
Ford responded by talking about gas prices and then said more people have jobs since he took over from the Liberal government.
These are the living wages for the 23 regions included in the OLWN's report.
- Durham Region: $17.80
- Guelph Wellington: $18.10
- Haldimand-Norfolk: $17:35
- Halton Region: $20.75
- Hamilton: $17.20
- Hastings-Prince Edward: $17.75
- Kingston: $17.75
- Leeds, Grenville, Lanark Counties: $18.25
- London: $16.55
- Muskoka: $18.55
- Niagara Region: $18.90
- Northumberland Country: $18.80
- Ottawa: $18.60
- Peel Region: $19.80
- Perth and Huron Counties: $17.95
- Peterborough: $18.35
- Renfrew County: $17.40
- Sault Ste. Marie: $16.20
- Simcoe County: $19.05
- Sudbury: $16.98
- Thunder Bay: $16.30
- Toronto: $22.08
- Waterloo Region: $17.20
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations made against him,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Families of Paul Bernardo's victims not allowed to attend parole hearing in person, lawyer says
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo have been barred from attending the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, according to the lawyer representing the loved ones of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.
BREAKING Missing 4-month-old baby pronounced dead after ‘suspicious incident’ in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a 'suspicious incident' at a Midtown apartment building on Wednesday afternoon.
'They squandered 10 years of opportunity': Canada Post strike exposes longtime problems, expert says
Canada Post is at ‘death's door’ and won't survive if it doesn't dramatically transform its business, a professor who has studied the Crown corporation is warning as the postal workers' national strike drags on.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
'Bomb cyclone' batters B.C. coast with hurricane-force winds, downing trees onto roads and vehicles
Massive trees toppled onto roads, power lines and parked cars as hurricane-force winds battered the B.C. coast overnight during an intense “bomb cyclone” weather event.
EV battery manufacturer Northvolt faces major roadblocks
Swedish electric vehicle battery manufacturer Northvolt is fighting for its survival as Canadian taxpayer money and pension fund investments hang in the balance.
Canada closes embassy in Ukraine after U.S. receives information on 'potential significant air attack'
The Embassy of Canada to Ukraine, located in Kyiv, has temporarily suspended in-person services after U.S. officials there warned they'd received information about a 'potential significant air attack,' cautioning citizens to shelter in place if they hear an air alert.
U.S. woman denied parole 30 years after drowning 2 sons by rolling car into South Carolina lake
A parole board decided unanimously Wednesday that Susan Smith should remain in prison 30 years after she killed her sons by rolling her car into a South Carolina lake while they were strapped in their car seats.