Ontario to raise minimum wage to $16.55 per hour in October

Toronto – Ontario’s minimum wage will increase from $15.50 to $16.55 per hour starting on Oct. 1.

David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, said, “This 6.8 per cent raise means up to $2,200 more in workers’ pockets every year and brings Ontario to one of the highest minimum wages in the country.”

Earlier this week, the government passed the Working for Workers Act, 2023, which enacts the highest health and safety fines in the country and new penalties for those who try to abuse vulnerable temporary foreign workers by withholding their passport or work permit.

Ontario is also the first province in Canada to ban unfair or discriminatory Canadian work experience requirements in more than 30 regulated professions and trades. In December 2023, all unfair or discriminatory requirements for Canadian experience in these professions will be gone, the minister said.