Minimum wage went up Thursday

News Release
Min. of Labour

TORONTO, Jan. 31 /CNW/ - The Ontario government is raising the minimum wage tomorrow, February 1, 2007, for the fourth time since taking office, said Labour Minister Steve Peters.
“We are providing Ontario’s lowest-paid and most vulnerable workers with the fourth increase in the minimum wage in four years,” said Peters. “It is to Ontario’s economic advantage to see that our workers are paid a fair wage.”
The McGuinty government has increased Ontario’s minimum wage by 17 per cent - from $6.85 an hour to $8.00 an hour. The general minimum wage will be raised to $8.00 per hour on February 1, 2007.
Other minimum wage rates will also increase. The minimum wage for:
-Students under 18 years old and employed for not more than 28 hours a week during the school year or employed during a school holiday, will rise from $7.25 to $7.50 per hour
-Liquor servers will increase from $6.75 to $6.95 per hour
-Hunting and fishing guides currently paid a minimum of $38.75 for less than five consecutive hours in a day and $77.50 for five or more hours in a day (whether or not the hours are consecutive) will also increase to $40.00 and $80.00 respectively.
“The increase is part of the McGuinty government’s investment in people,” said Peters. “By phasing in the minimum wage increases, we can help these workers benefit from Ontario’s economic growth while keeping Ontario businesses competitive.”