Ontario Employers Take Note: Minimum Wage Is Increasing October 1, 2020

Employers operating in Ontario, Canada should be aware that Ontario’s minimum wage rate is set to increase on October 1, 2020. This increase affects not only the general minimum wage rate, but also the alternative minimum wage rates that apply in Ontario.

Effective on October 1, 2020, all minimum wage rates are increasing as follows:

Minimum wage rateRates from January 1, 2018, to September 30, 2020Rates from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021General minimum wage$14.00 per hour$14.25 per hourStudent minimum wage$13.15 per hour$13.40 per hourLiquor servers minimum wage$12.20 per hour$12.45 per hourHunting and fishing guides minimum wage$70.00
Rate for working less than five consecutive hours in a day$140.00
Rate for working five or more hours in a day whether or not the hours are consecutive$71.30
Rate for working less than five consecutive hours in a day$142.60
Rate for working five or more hours in a day whether or not the hours are consecutiveHomeworkers minimum wage$15.40 per hour$15.70 per hourWilderness guides minimum wageRates from June 3, 2019 to September 30, 2020:   $70.00
Rate for working less than five consecutive hours in a day $140.00
Rate for working five or more hours in a day whether or not the hours are consecutive$71.30
Rate for working less than five consecutive hours in a day$142.60
Rate for working five or more hours in a day whether or not the hours are consecutive

This marks the first time minimum wage has increased since January of 2018. Future increases to the minimum wage are expected to be tied to Ontario’s consumer price index.