Minimum Wage Raised to $11 in Ontario

THUNDER BAY – Ontario is increasing the minimum wage from $10.25 to $11 per hour on June 1, 2014. This new rate reflects the rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) since the last minimum wage increase in 2010 and is part of the provincial government’s commitment to fairness.

“I’m incredibly pleased that my efforts, alongside many incredible local advocates all fighting on behalf of hard working individuals, have been heard. I’m proud of our government’s continued commitment to improving the lives of all Ontarians, increasing minimum wage by 50 percent since 2003, and showing leadership at a time when others would not. Increasing the minimum wage will help improve the standard of living for hardworking people in Thunder Bay – Superior North while ensuring that local businesses have the predictability necessary to plan for the future,” stated Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay Superior North.

The government will also introduce legislation that would tie future minimum wage increases to the CPI. This will ensure the minimum wage keeps up with the cost of living, and that increases are predictable for businesses and families in our communities. Under the proposed legislation, increases would be announced by April 1 and come into effect on Oct. 1.

“Today’s increase will make the minimum wage in Ontario the highest in Canada, and through legislation, we hope to provide predictability for employers going forward.  This increase to minimum wage is one of the measures we have introduced to support lower income earners, and is in stark contrast to the work of the previous government that froze minimum wage for 9 years,”stated Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan.

The proposed legislation would act on the recommendations of Ontario’s Minimum Wage Advisory Panel, which included business, labour, youth and anti-poverty representatives.

Ensuring the minimum wage is fair and predictable for both workers and business is part of the Ontario government’s economic plan to invest in people, build modern infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate.  

“Our government is focused on helping hardworking Ontarians by ensuring fairness for people living on minimum wage and predictability for business. By establishing a transparent, fair and responsible method of setting minimum wage in the future, we are taking the politics out of minimum wage. This will provide fairness for Ontario workers and their families and predictability and transparency for our businesses to remain competitive and succeed,” concludes Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Labour.

 QUICK FACTS

• The 75 cent increase reflects the annual change in Ontario’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) since the last increase on March 31, 2010.

• The province’s Minimum Wage Advisory Panel recommends that the province perform a full review of its minimum wage rates and revision process every five years.

• The panel held 10 public consultations across the province and received more than 400 submissions from organizations, businesses, and individual Ontarians.

• Increasing the minimum wage supports Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. In the first three years of the strategy, approximately 47,000 children and their families were lifted out of poverty.
• The current minimum wage is $10.25 per hour. It has increased nearly 50 per cent since 2003.

LEARN MORE

Read the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel’s Report.