Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario Proposes Minimum Wage Increase Starting January 1, 2022
Date: November 2, 2021
On November 2, 2021, the Ontario government announced that it plans to introduce legislation that, if passed, would raise the general minimum wage from $14.35 to $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2022.
Under the proposed legislation, the minimum wage rate for liquor servers (currently set at $12.55 per hour) would be eliminated. This means that beginning January 1, 2022, liquor servers would be entitled to the general minimum wage of $15.00 per hour.
The government also plans to increase minimum wage rates for the following employees:
- students: from $13.50 to $14.10 an hour
- homeworkers: from $15.80 to $16.50 an hour
- hunting/fishing/wilderness guides: from $71.75 to $75.00 for working less than five consecutive hours in a day; and from $143.55 to $150.05 for working five or more hours in a day.
We will continue to monitor for the release of the legislation that will give effect to these proposed changes and will provide a further update when it becomes available.
Editor’s note: The government introduced Bill 43, Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021, that, if passed, will amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to increase minimum wage on January 1, 2022 to the rates noted above.
The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©
