The Ontario government is increasing the general minimum wage from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour on Oct. 1, 2026. The annual increase is tied to Ontario’s Consumer Price Index, which currently sits at 1.9 per cent.
“Ontario workers are the engine of this province,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “By raising the minimum wage to one of the highest in Canada, our government is putting more money in the pockets of Ontario workers, supporting families through economic uncertainty and giving businesses the stability and predictability they need to plan and grow.”
A worker earning the general minimum wage and working 40 hours per week will see an annual pay increase of approximately $728. The increase builds on the government’s broader economic and workforce initiatives, including Ontario’s multi‑year plan to invest in training, protect critical industries and safeguard workplaces across the province.
The student minimum wage will also increase from $16.60 to $16.90 per hour. A student is defined as a person under the age of 18 who works 28 hours a week or less when school is in session or during a break or summer holidays.
For employees who get paid to work in their own homes, the homeworkers’ minimum wage will increase from $19.35 to $19.70 per hour. Students of any age (including under the age of 18) who are employed as homeworkers must be paid the homeworkers’ minimum wage.
