Ontario’s minimum wage to rise to $11.25, second-highest in country

Legislation last fall tied the province’s minimum wage to inflation, so every year the new rate will be announced by April 1 and take effect that October.

Thestar.com
March 19, 2015


Ontario’s minimum wage will rise to $11.25 an hour starting Oct. 1, making it the second-highest rate in the country after the Northwest Territories.

The Liberal government enacted legislation in the fall that tied minimum wage to inflation, so every year the new rate will be announced by April 1 to take effect that October.

While the general minimum-wage increases from the current $11, the minimum wage for students increases to $10.55 and for liquor servers it rises to $9.80.

The Ministry of Labour says this is the ninth minimum wage increase since the Liberals took power in 2003.

The Northwest Territories’ minimum wage will be increased to $12.50 in June, making it the highest rate in the country.

British Columbia also announced an increase in its minimum wage last week, a rise of 20 cents in September to $10.45 as a result of indexing to B.C.’s consumer price index.

Here’s a list of minimum wages in Canada:

British Columbia: Currently $10.25 for most workers and $9 for those serving alcohol; increasing to $10.45 and $9.20, respectively, in September

Alberta: $10.20 or $9.20 for workers who serve alcohol

Saskatchewan: $10.20

Manitoba: $10.70

Ontario: Currently $11; $10.30 for students under 18 and $9.55 for workers serving alcohol; increases to $11.25, $10.55 and $9.80, respectively, in October

Quebec: $10.35 or $8.90 for workers who receive tips; increasing to $10.55 and $9.05, respectively, in May

New Brunswick: $10.30

Nova Scotia: $10.40 an hour for most workers and $9.90 for “inexperienced” workers; increasing to $10.60 and $10.10, respectively, in April

Prince Edward Island: $10.35, increasing to $10.50 in July

Newfoundland and Labrador: $10.25, increasing to $10.50 in October

Yukon: $10.72, increasing to $10.86 in April

Northwest Territories: $10, increasing to $12.50 in June

Nunavut: $11