Minimum Wage in Ontario to Increase on October 1
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Written on behalf of Peter McSherry
The government of Ontario is continuing to boost income for employees across the province by increasing the general minimum wage for the fourth year in a row.
As of October 1, 2017 the minimum wage will be $11.60.
It is important to note that this rate will not apply to liquor servers, students under the age of 18, hunting and fishing guides, as well as homeworkers, as they are all exempt from the minimum wage provisions in the Employment Standards Act. If you are an employee in any of these categories, more information about the special rules that apply to you can be found here.
Minimum Wage as of October 1, 2017
| Minimum Wage Rate | Rates from Oct 1, 2016 to Sept 30, 2017 | Rates as of Oct 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Minimum Wage | $11.40 per hour | $11.60 per hour | ||
| Student Minimum Wage | $10.70 per hour | $10.90 per hour | ||
| Liquor Servers Minimum Wage | $9.90 per hour | $10.10 per hour | ||
| Hunting and Fishing Guides Minimum Wage | $56.95 Rate for working less than five consecutive hours in a day $113.95 Rate for working five or more hours in a day whether or not the hours are consecutive | $58.00 Rate for working less than five consecutive hours in a day $116.00 Rate for working five or more hours in a day whether or not the hours are consecutive | ||
| Homeworkers Wage | $12.55 per hour | $12.80 per hour |
Minimum wage in Alberta is currently $12.20 an hour- the highest of any province in Canada. Premier Notley’s NDP government has promised to raise that provinces minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2018.Earlier this year, labour groups pushed for the Wynne government to commit to take Alberta’s lead and raise the province’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. The consecutive increases that have occurred over the past three years were in line with the inflation rate, and in accordance with Wynne’s 2014 campaign promise.
Here in Ontario, the Liberal government has not provided a definitive answer about adopting the $15 minimum wage prior to the election scheduled for June 2018.
We will continue to follow developments in this matter and will blog about updates as they become available. In the meantime, if you are an employee and have questions about minimum wage, or about your rights at work, contact Guelph employment lawyer, Peter A. McSherry online or at 519-821-5465 to schedule a consultation.
