Premier announces Ontario hiking minimum wage to $11/hour
by The Canadian Press
Kathleen Wynne said Liberals will introduce legislation to tie future increases to inflation rate
TORONTO—Ontario’s minimum wage will be increased to $11 an hour effective June 1.
It’s the first change in the rate since 2010 when the Liberal government froze the minimum wage at $10.25 an hour.
The announcement was made by Premier Kathleen Wynne, who said the Liberals will introduce legislation to tie future increases to the rate of inflation, a key recommendation of an expert panel.
The new rate would be announced April 1 each year and take effect Oct. 1.
Anti-poverty activists and labour groups had been lobbying for an increase in the rate to $14 an hour.
But Labour Minister Yasir Naqvi said that would be “too much” for businesses to handle and could prompt some to cut jobs.
