TORONTO — Ontario‘s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, David Piccini, has announced a significant increase in the minimum wage and the passage of the Working for Workers Act, 2023. The new changes are aimed at benefiting workers across the province and strengthening workers’ rights.
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Starting on Sunday, October 1, Ontario’s minimum wage will see a notable boost, rising from $15.50 to $16.55 per hour. This increase, amounting to a 6.8 percent raise, is a substantial step in the right direction, benefiting more than 900,000 hardworking individuals and their families.
This wage hike translates to up to $2,200 in additional income for workers each year, making Ontario one of the provinces with the highest minimum wages in the country. The government’s commitment to delivering predictable annual increases helps families cope with the growing cost of living. Moreover, by announcing this increase six months in advance, the government aims to provide businesses with the certainty they need to plan accordingly.
Minister Piccini emphasized that minimum wage jobs should serve as a starting point in a worker’s career, not a long-term solution. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, the government is dedicated to empowering workers to pursue better employment opportunities and enjoy more substantial paychecks.
In addition to raising the minimum wage, Ontario has also taken steps to protect and prepare workers for the changing landscape of work through the Working for Workers Act, of 2023. This legislation includes significant provisions such as imposing the highest health and safety fines in the country and introducing penalties for those who mistreat vulnerable temporary foreign workers by withholding their passports or work permits.
Furthermore, Ontario has become the first province in Canada to eliminate unfair or discriminatory Canadian work experience requirements in over 30 regulated professions and trades. This change ensures that newcomers can work in fields they are trained for, providing them with equal opportunities. By December 2023, all unjust requirements for Canadian experience in these professions will be eliminated.
The government is also enhancing job-protected leave for military reservists, making it the most flexible and comprehensive in the country. Additionally, it is taking steps to protect remote workers during mass layoffs and enhancing workplace safety for women by requiring women-only washrooms on construction sites and ensuring protective equipment fits them appropriately.
Moreover, Ontario has expanded cancer coverage for firefighters who demonstrate exceptional courage in the line of duty. These measures build upon previous legislation introduced by the government, such as the Working for Workers Acts in 2021 and 2022, which have already positively impacted the lives of millions of workers and their families.
In the upcoming months, Minister Piccini plans to introduce more legislation as part of the government’s overarching mission to make Ontario the premier destination in the world for living, working, and raising families.