By Madeline Horner
The minimum wage in Ontario applies to almost all employees over 18, whether they are paid an hourly rate or work on commission. In January 2018, the liberal provincial government increased the Ontario minimum wage from $11.60 to $14 - a $2.40 increase. During Ford’s first 27 months as premier of Ontario, he did not raise the minimum wage at all, but finally, on October 1, 2020, the Ontario government raised the minimum wage by 25 cents bringing it to $14.25.
Earlier this month the Onatrio government raised it by ten cents to the current minimum wage of $14.35. However, a 10 cent change is not enough to have a big impact on people who are working minimum wage jobs.
Changes to the minimum wage are being made to reflect increases in living expenses and inflation. However, the minimum wage is already not enough to live off of, especially if employees are trying to support a family. Sometimes minimum wage is not enough for people to pay for groceries, gas or a presto card, clothes, childcare if they have kids and rent, so it should definitely increase so that people can live.
The student minimum wage has also been increasing with the normal minimum wage and now sits at $13.50.