Premier Doug Ford announced earlier today that Ontario will increase the province’s minimum wage from $14.35 per hour to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2022. Under the proposed legislation, servers’ and bartenders’ minimum wages will also rise to $15 per hour from the current $12.55.
Ontario is also proposing increasing special minimum wage rates for students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours or less a week (when school is in session or school breaks/summer break) to receive an increase from $13.50 to $14.10 an hour. Additionally, homeworkers who do paid work out of their own homes for employers will see an increase from $15.80 to $16.50 an hour. Hunting and fishing guides currently earn a minimum rate of $71.75 for working less than five consecutive hours in a day. Under the proposed changes, this would increase to $75, and their current $143.55 minimum rate for working five or more hours in a day would increase to $150.05.
It is important to note at this time, the bill has not been introduced and there has been no change to the minimum wage requirements. TIAO will use this time to work with our partners to assess the timescales proposed by government and the impact that these proposals will have upon our industry as we start on our road to recovery and respond in full.
For more information on Ontario’s proposed increase to minimum wage, please visit here.