Ontario Increases Minimum Wage McGuinty
Government Helps Hard Working Families
TORONTO, March 2 /CNW/ -
NEWS
Ontario is raising the minimum wage to $9.50 on March 31, 2009. This is the sixth increase since 2004.
The province of Ontario started implementing annual increases early in 2003, raising the general minimum wage from $6.85 in 2004 to $8.00 in 2007. By 2010, Ontario will further increase the minimum wage to $10.25.
Phasing in these increases balances the needs of hard working families with the needs of small businesses that create jobs.
Increasing the minimum wage is part of Breaking the Cycle: Ontario's
Poverty Reduction Strategy (http://www.growingstronger.ca/english/default.asp), which will reduce the
number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over 5 years - lifting
90,000 kids out of poverty - by boosting benefits for low-income families and enhancing publicly-funded education.
QUOTES
"We are helping hard-working Ontarians maintain a decent standard of
living. A fair minimum wage is good for workers."
- Peter Fonseca, Minister Of Labour
"This increase in minimum wage puts over $1300 a year in the pockets of
our lowest paid workers. This is another way that we're continuing to move
forward with our poverty reduction strategy and our commitment to improve
opportunity for all Ontarians."
- Deb Matthews, Minister of Children and Youth Services
QUICK FACTS
- By 2010, raises will have totalled $3.40 (50 per cent) since 2004
- The minimum wage (http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/info/minimumwage/)
remained static in Ontario between 1995 and 2004.
- The major sector industries employing minimum wage earners are:
accommodation and food, retail trade, and agriculture.
