Minimum wage in Ontario to increase Oct. 1

Ontario is increasing its minimum wage in Wednesday by 40 cents per hour.

The rate goes into effect on Oct. 1, rising from $17.20 to $17.60.

The province increases the rate by factoring in the Consumer Price Index, which reflects a basket of groceries, such as eggs, various fresh or frozen meat and coffee.

Despite the increase many industry and poverty experts say it will not enough to sustain daily life costs in large urban centres such as the Greater Toronto Area.

The government says the annualized wage increase of 2.4 per cent is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index and delivers on the government’s plan to “protect and support workers while keeping Ontario competitive in the face of U.S. tariffs.”

Statistics from the Ontario government say that 36 per cent of workers at or below the wage of $17.60 per hour are in retail trade and 23 per cent are in accommodation and food services.

CHCH News anchor Taz Boga spoke with Tom Cooper, the Director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, if the raise is enough for people who live in large urban centres like the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

She asked what a living wage would be for Hamilton, and how the provincial government is doing to support workers.

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