Ontario’s minimum wage will increase to $17.60 per hour on Oct. 1, the provincial government announced Tuesday, marking a 2.4 per cent rise tied to inflation.
The 40-cent hike from the current $17.20 hourly rate is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI) and is part of an annual adjustment under the Employment Standards Act. The move will bring Ontario’s general minimum wage to the second highest among Canadian provinces.
David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, said the increase is part of the province’s broader strategy to support workers and businesses with fair and predictable wage growth.
“Ontario’s minimum wage remains one of the highest in the country,” Piccini said in a statement. “Now more than ever, workers and businesses need fair, balanced and predictable wages.”
Impact on workers and sectors
A full-time minimum wage earner working 40 hours per week stands to make up to $835 more per year under the new rate.
According to the province, the retail sector accounts for about 36 per cent of workers earning at or below the new threshold. Another 24 per cent work in accommodation and food services—sectors where low-wage employment is most concentrated.
Since 2018, Ontario’s minimum wage has climbed from $14 an hour to $17.60, an increase of 25.7 per cent over seven years.
Broader labour policy efforts
The wage hike follows other legislative efforts aimed at strengthening protections and opportunities for workers. Last year, the province passed the Working for Workers Six Act, which includes provisions to boost skilled trades participation, eliminate employment barriers, and improve support for frontline and female workers.
Minimum wage increases in Ontario are scheduled annually based on the provincial CPI, a measure of inflation that reflects price changes experienced by consumers.
