Minimum wage rising again

Ontario is raising the minimum wage to $10.25 on March 31.
This is the seventh increase since 2004.

The province started implementing annual increases early in 2003, raising the general minimum wage from $6.85 in 2004 to $9.50 in 2009.
Phasing in these increases balances the needs of hard-working families with the needs of small businesses that create jobs.
Increasing the minimum wage is part of “Breaking the Cycle: Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.”
Its aim is to reduce the number of children living in poverty by 25 percent over five years—lifting 90,000 kids out of poverty—by boosting benefits for low-income families and enhancing publicly-funded education.
“Hard-working Ontarians deserve a decent standard of living and we are helping to maintain that,” said Labour minister Peter Fonseca.
“A fair minimum wage is good for workers,” he added.
“This increase is another way Ontario is investing in low-income working families,” echoed Children and Youth Services minister Laurel Broten.
“Along with the Ontario Child Benefit and other initiatives that support our Poverty Reduction Strategy, our efforts are helping to improve the quality of life of all Ontarians,” she noted.
By March 31, 2010, raises will have totalled $3.40 (50 percent) since 2004.
The minimum wage remained static between 1995 and 2004.