Ontario's minimum wage went up. Here's what you need to know
Ontario’s minimum wage has gone up.
On Saturday, the provincial minimum wage increased by 50 cents to an hourly rate of $15.50.
The 50 cent hike was first announced by Ontario’s Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton at an April news conference.
In 2018, Premier Doug Ford elected to freeze minimum wage increases before they were scheduled to rise to $15.00 in Jan. 2019. Instead, the province landed on raising it 35 cents to $14.35 an hour.
Then, in Jan. 2022, it was raised to $15.00 an hour -- a year later than originally slated.
WHAT ABOUT SPECIALIZED WAGES?
Students will also see a 50 cent increase in their wages Saturday -- from $14.10 to $14.60 an hour.
The government notes that students of any age (including students under the age of 18 years old) who are employed as homeworkers must be paid the homeworker’s minimum wage rather than the student’s.
Homeworkers, which the Ontario government defines as “employees who do paid work in their own homes,” will see a 55 cent increase, with their wages going up to $17.05 an hour.
Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the special minimum wage rate that previously applied to certain “liquor servers” was eliminated. They are now paid the provincial minimum wage.
To learn more about changes to specialized wages, click here.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I’M MID-PAY PERIOD WHEN THE CHANGE OCCURS?
If a pay increase occurs partway through your pay period, the province says that “the pay period will be treated as if it were two separate pay periods and the employee will be entitled to at least the minimum wage that applies in each of those periods.”
WILL ONTARIO’S MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE IN 2023?
According to the province, minimum wage rates stand to increase annually on Oct. 1. The province says that if new rates are to come into effect on Oct. 1, 2023, they will publicly announce so on or before April 1, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.