Ontario minimum wage just increased by 35 cents

02-Oct-2026

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The Ontario government is increasing the minimum wage from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour on October 1, but advocates say the 35-cent increase is not enough.

In a news release Thursday, the government said the increase is tied to Ontario’s Consumer Price Index, now at 1.9 per cent, and the amount will benefit more than 700,000 workers across the province. A worker earning minimum wage 40 hours per week will see an annual pay increase of about $728, the government said.

Under the Employment Standards Act, the province is required to increase the minimum wage every year on Oct. 1.

"As families and workers face higher costs and businesses navigate changing trade environments, today’s minimum wage increase will help workers keep pace with global economic uncertainty while maintaining a predictable approach that businesses can plan for," said Labour Minister Trevor Jones in the release.