Government of Ontario announces minimum wage hike

The Government of Ontario today announced that they intended to introduce legislation that, from January 1st, 2022, would raise the Ontario minimum wage to $15/hr, including liquor server minimum wage. This would affect an estimated 763,500 workers in Ontario, 37% of whom work in retail and 24% in accommodation and food services. The government’s media release did not mention any consultations with either businesses or economic experts in the creation of this policy.

Click here to read the GNCC’s reaction.

Value of building permits up, but commercial construction declines

The total value of building permits rose 4.3% to $10.1 billion in September, led by Ontario (+6.3%). Construction intentions in the residential sector were up 8.2%, while the non-residential sector decreased 3.2%.

High-value permits for two new condo buildings valued at over $300 million in the cities of Mississauga and Toronto helped push Ontario’s multi-family permits up 40.4% to $1.7 billion in September. At the national level, multi-family permits rose sharply, up 18.6% to $3.9 billion.

Conversely, construction intentions for single-family homes declined 2.7% to $3.0 billion, mainly reflecting decreases in Ontario and Quebec.

Click here for more information.

Additional airports to accept international flights, including Hamilton International

As a next step in increasing travel opportunities in light of strict vaccine travel requirements that will be fully phased in by November 30, and the pan-Canadian proof of vaccination credential now available for travel, Transport Canada is easing the restriction on international flight arrivals. The department is expanding the scope of the existing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that currently directs international passenger flights into 10 Canadian airports. Effective November 30th, eight airports across Canada will be reopened to international travel.

Click here for more information.

GNCC concludes 2021 Niagara Economic Summit

Today, the GNCC held the 9th annual regional economic summit, with three panels discussing important issues for Niagara’s present and future. Experts from across the country in a variety of fields touched on topics such as the labour shortage, the business-government relationship, affordable child care, public transit, housing, the equitable treatment of women, LGTBQI individuals, Indigenous peoples and other minorities, and more.

Click here to view the virtual summit.

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Here’s how Ontario’s new minimum wage compares to every other province and territory

CTV News

Here’s how Ontario’s new increase stacks up against other provinces and territories:

British Columbia (B.C.)

As of June 1, the minimum wage in British Columbia sits at $15.20. B.C. has the highest minimum wage of the Canadian provinces.

Alberta

Alberta implemented a $15.00/hour minimum wage on Oct. 1, 2018. This wage applies to all workers with the exception of students under 18.

Saskatchewan

As of Oct. 1, Saskatchewan’s minimum wage sits at $11.81/hour. According to the Saskatchewan government, workers such as farm labourers, babysitters and some home care workers can be paid under minimum wage.

Manitoba

Manitoba’s minimum wage currently sits at $11.95/hour. This minimum wage applies equally to all employees regardless of age or the number of hours they work.

Quebec

Quebec’s minimum wage was increased to $13.50/hour on May 1. For workers that make tips, the minimum wage is $10.80/hour.

Newfoundland & Labrador

On Oct. 1, Newfoundland and Labrador’s minimum wage was hiked by $0.25 to $12.75. Another review of their minimum wage is expected in early 2022.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick’s minimum wage sits at $11.75/hour as of April 1. This does not apply to certain categories of employees, including government construction work, and counsellors and program staff at residential summer camps.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s minimum wage is adjusted annually on April 1. This year, it was increased to $12.95/hour. The province lists out a number of employees on their website who do not have to be compensated minimum wage; see the full list here.

Prince Edward Island (PEI)

PEI’s minimum wage is $13.00 as of April 1. This applies to all employees within the province.

Yukon

This year, Yukon increased its minimum wage to $15.20/hour. The territory has also set out a Fair Wage Schedule to recommend specific wages for certain industries.

Northwest Territories (NWT)

Northwest Territories’ minimum wage is also set at $15.20/hour — matching British Columbia and Yukon for the second-highest in the country. Minimum wage is reviewed every two years in NWT.

Nunavut

Nunavut has the highest minimum wage in the country, currently set at $16.00 an hour. This has no age restrictions and is reviewed yearly.

‘More than 760,000 Ontario workers will be getting a raise’: Doug Ford hikes minimum wage to $15, small business says the timing is terrible

Financial Post

Ontario will increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour, Premier Doug Ford announced Tuesday, drawing support from labour leaders who called the move a good start.

But while the labour leaders typically at odds with Progressive Conservative governments offered some praise, business groups with whom the Tories are more often aligned were upset.

Both the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the announcement comes at a terrible time.

“Many businesses are still grappling with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, including cashflow constraints and the increased cost of doing business,” the chamber’s president and CEO Rocco Rossi said in a statement.

“This is no time to add to their costs.”

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