This will no doubt reignite calls for a similar move here in Manitoba – Ontario is going ahead with a $15.00-an-hour minimum wage on January 1st, 2022.
Currently, the minimum wage in Ontario is $14.35 and Manitoba’s is $11.95.
Ontario premier Doug Ford also confirmed his government will hike the $12.55 minimum wage for workers who serve alcohol and receive tips to $15.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Ontario Chamber of Commere both say the move comes “at the worst possible time” for small businesses still suffering from cash flow issues related to the pandemic. They also say they were not consulted about the move.
The latest Statistics Canada numbers from the month of August say about 500,000 Ontario workers are earning the minimum wage or less.
