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Ontario Lifts Minimum Wage to $17.95 on Oct. 1

The province casts the 35-cent raise as modest relief from higher living costs.

Overview

  • The Ontario government announced the rate will rise from $17.60 to $17.95 per hour effective Oct. 1, 2026.
  • Officials say the change will reach more than 700,000 workers, with the largest shares in retail and in food and accommodation.
  • Labour Minister David Piccini said the goal is to support families through economic uncertainty and give businesses predictability.
  • A full-time worker at 40 hours per week would earn about $728 more over a year at the new rate.
  • With British Columbia moving to $18.25 on June 1 and Nunavut at $19.75, Ontario’s October rate will rank third in Canada.