Ontario is raising the general minimum wage from $11 to $11.25 per hour, effective October 1.
Minimum wage rates for jobs in special categories such as liquor servers, homeworkers, and students are also increasing at the same time says a news release from the Ministry of Labour.
The increase is the result of recent changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 that tie minimum-wage increases to Ontario’s Consumer Price Index. This was recommended by the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel in its final report last year.
"I think it's incredible," Lana Mitchell of the Low Income People Involvement (LIPI) told BayToday. "But I think people need to put it into context because the minimum wage is still a survivable livable wage if someone is working 40 hours a week. It's excellent that it's happening but people are still in the position where it won't even address the increase in hydro."
And Mitchell says she definitely sees poverty rising in the city.
"I don't know why but we're seeing increases from the Santa Fund to toy drives. we're seeing increases in all the programs that we manage. Last year was the first year we actually ran out of money. that's the first time for us as an organization helping people."
LIPI started 30 years ago.
This will be the ninth minimum wage increase since 2003.
The primary sectors employing minimum wage earners are accommodation and food, retail trade, and agriculture.
Minimum wage increases will be announced by April 1 each year, and will be effective on October 1 of the same year.
Read the report here: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/pubs/mwap/index.php
