There is some good news for minimum wage workers in Ontario as ON will see rise in minimum wage from current $17.20 to $17.60 per hour starting from October 1, 2025. This latest increase is tied to inflation, affects thousand of workers and places province among the top regions in Canada for minimum wage rates.
A full time worker (40 hours/week) will earn $835 per year. This adjustment is tied to Ontario’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), which rose by 2.4 % in 2024.
Other Provinces Increasing Minimum Wage on October 1, 2025
Ontario is isn’t the only province, there are several provinces raising minimum wages on the same date. Here is the table of Canada’s minimum wage increases in October 2025:
| Province | Current Minimum Wage | New Minimum Wage (Oct 1, 2025) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $17.20 | $17.60 | +$0.40 |
| Manitoba | $15.80 | $16.00 | +$0.20 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.00 | $15.35 | +$0.35 |
| Nova Scotia | $15.70 | $16.50 | +$0.80 |
| Prince Edward Island (PEI) | $16.00 | $16.50 | +$0.50 |
Nova Scotia will witness the largest increase (+$0.80), bringing the rate to $16.50. PEI will have $16.50 minimum wage in October, with another increase scheduled for April 2026. These two are the part of Atlantic Canada. Manitoba and SK will see a minimal increase.
How Ontario Compares to Other Provinces in Minimum Wage ?
With the new rate of $17.60 per hour, Ontario will have the second-highest provincial minimum wage in Canada, just behind British Columbia minimum wage of $17.85 per hour.
It’s important to note that certain sectors have different minimum wage rates in every province, for e.g. in house care givers, liquor servers and more.
Impact of Minimum Wage Increases and international students
There are many international students in Ontario who work part time on minimum wages and this will help them against high costs of living in housing and groceries. Similarly it will help other full time minimum wage workers.
Small business may feel the cost pressures of increased payroll which may lead to price increases and reduced working hours.
