Today, the Provincial Government has announced that it will introduce legislation that if, passed, will raise minimum wage to $15 an hour effective January 1st, 2022.
As part of the proposed change, the Government would also eliminate the special minimum wage rate for liquor servers – they would be entitled to the general minimum wage.
Students under 18, homeworkers, and hunting, fishing and wilderness guides would also see an increase in their special minimum wage rates:
- Students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session, or work during a school break or summer holidays would see an increase from $13.50 to $14.10 an hour.
- Homeworkers (those who do paid work out of their own homes for employers) would see an increase from $15.80 an hour to $16.50 an hour.
- Hunting and fishing guides currently have a minimum rate of $71.75 for working less than five consecutive hours in a day, and $143.55 for working five or more hours in a day. Their new proposed rate would be $75.00 for working less than five consecutive hours in a day, and $150.05 for working five or more hours in a day.
The government also announced that it will release its plan to protect Ontario’s progress against COVID-19 and the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review on Thursday, November 4.
We are seeking comments from our tourism sector to bring forward to the provincial government prior to passing this bill. Please reach out to NOTO staff if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this announcement.
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