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Ontario Minimum Wage Increases March 31

March 30 2009 - Ontario's minimum wage increases to $9.50 on March 31, 2009 - the sixth increase since 2004.

The minimum wage had been unchanged in Ontario between 1995 and 2004.The province started implementing annual by raising the general minimum wage from $6.85 in 2004 to $8.00 in 2007 and $8.75 in 2008. The minimum wage will be raised to $10.25 by 2010. By next year increases will have totalled $3.40 (50 per cent) since 2004.

Peter Fonseca, Minister of Labour said:

"We are helping hard-working Ontarians maintain a decent standard of living. A fair minimum wage is good for workers."

The Government media release stated that phasing in these increases balances the needs of hard working families with the needs of small businesses that create jobs. The major sector industries employing minimum wage earners are: accommodation and food, retail trade, and agriculture.

Increasing the level of the minimum wage is part of Breaking the Cycle: Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy, which is intended to reduce the number of children living in poverty by 25% over 5 years - lifting 90,000 kids out of poverty - by boosting benefits for low-income families and enhancing publicly-funded education.

Deb Matthews, Minister of Children and Youth Services, commented:

"This increase in minimum wage puts over $1300 a year in the pockets of our lowest paid workers. This is another way that we're continuing to move forward with our poverty reduction strategy and our commitment to improve opportunity for all Ontarians."