The Federal and Ontario minimum wages are increasing!
On Monday April 1, the minimum wage for federally-regulated workers will go up from $16.65 to $17.30 per hour. The yearly adjustment benefits almost 1 million workers in Canada’s federally-regulated industries such as telecommunications, banking and transportation.
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The Ontario government has also announced that the annual increase of the provincial minimum wage will go up from $16.55 to $17.20 per hour on October 1. They are legally required to make this announcement by April 1 each year. Subminimum wages, such as for students under 18, will also be adjusted upwards.
But let’s be clear about two things. First, these increases to the federal and provincial minimum wages are a direct result of workers organizing. In 2014, workers won legislation that tied annual adjustments to the Ontario minimum wage with the Consumer Price Index. And in 2021, the federal government followed suit by introducing a federal minimum wage that also increases annually with inflation.
Second, these laws that peg minimum wage increases to annual cost of living adjustments are a huge win. It means minimum wage workers will not see their buying power decrease as prices increase. Don’t forget that between 1986 and 1996, the federal minimum wage was frozen for 10 years. And between 1995 and 2004, the provincial minimum wage was frozen for 9 years. Annual wage increases tied to inflation means the floor of our wages will not completely cave beneath us.
But we know that $17.30 and $17.20 are still not enough to live on. That’s why we will keep fighting for at least a $20 minimum wage for all and basic protections like paid sick days, equal pay for doing the same job as permanent full-time workers, and an end to misclassification and wage theft! Join us.