Ontario Passes Minimum Wage Legislation

Ontario has passed the controversial Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act (Bill 148). The legislation is designed to bring more fairness to Ontario workplaces and create more security and opportunity for vulnerable workers and their families.

The Act will raise the minimum wage, ensure more fairness for part-time and contract workers, expand personal emergency leave and step up enforcement of employment laws.  “Ontario workers deserve fair wages they can live on, as well as safe and fair working conditions,” Labour Minister Kevin Flynn said.

The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 will:

• Raise Ontario’s general minimum wage to $14 per hour on January 1, 2018, and then to $15 on January 1, 2019, followed by annual increases at the rate of inflation
• Mandate equal pay for part-time, temporary, casual and seasonal employees doing the same job as full-time employees; and equal pay for temporary help agency employees doing the same job as employees at the agencies’ client companies
• Expand personal emergency leave to 10 days per calendar year for all employees, with at least two paid days per year for employees who have been employed for at least a week
• Ban employers from requiring a doctor’s sick note from an employee taking personal emergency leave
• Provide up to 17 weeks off without the fear of losing their job when a worker or their child has experienced or is threatened with domestic or sexual violence, including paid leave for the first five days
• Bring Ontario’s vacation time in line with the national average by ensuring at least three weeks’ vacation after five years with the same employer
• Make employee scheduling fairer, including requiring employees to be paid for three hours of work if their shift is cancelled within 48 hours of its scheduled start time

The changes have faced stiff opposition from the business community.  The Ontario Chamber of Commerce allege the Wynne government has not given the policy much thought to the consequences.  Troy Newton, owner of Troy’s Diner in Milton Ontario, estimates the changes will cost him $46,000/ year.