Groups weigh in on Ontario labour reforms on last day of consultations
TORONTO — Unions and advocacy groups made one last effort Friday to sway the Ontario government on its plan for sweeping changes to the province’s labour laws, with some sounding the alarm about what they deem drastic measures and others arguing the proposal doesn’t go far enough.
The government wrapped up nearly two weeks of public consultations on proposed legislation that would, among other things, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, require equal pay for part-time workers and expand personal emergency leave.
Business groups repeated their concerns about the minimum wage increase and the pace at which it would be implemented.
The bill would boost the minimum wage, which is currently set to rise with inflation from $11.40 an hour to $11.60 in October, up to $14 on Jan. 1, 2018, and $15 the following year.