Ontario minimum wage to rise to $17.95 on Oct. 1

Ontario is expected to raise the minimum wage to $17.95 on October 1, and while it would make it among the highest minimum wages in the country, advocacy groups say it doesn't reach the estimated Greater Toronto Area living wage.

By The Canadian Press

Posted Apr 1, 2026 06:51:48 AM.

Last Updated Apr 1, 2026 11:32:20 AM.

Ontario’s minimum wage is set to rise to $17.95 an hour on Oct. 1.

The province boosts the wage annually based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation.

The current minimum wage is $17.60.

The government says someone earning minimum wage and working 40 hours per week will see an additional $728 per year.

Labour Minister David Piccini says the increase will leave Ontario with one of the highest minimum wage rates in the country.


The Ontario Living Wage Network says a living wage in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is $27.20.

Canadian dollars are pictured in Vancouver, Sept. 22, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward.
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