GTA has highest living wage requirements in province: Report
· Toronto Sun
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Residents in the Greater Toronto Area need to earn $27.60 an hour to afford the basics, according to a recent report.
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“When businesses face higher costs and households face affordability pressures, we need to pay attention to the role wages play in keeping local economies moving,” Anne Coleman, executive director of the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN), said in a Monday morning news release. “A living wage helps ensure workers have the purchasing power to support the businesses and services in their own communities. It is one important part of building an economy that works for more people, not just one that grows on paper.”
A living wage is calculated to show how much a worker must earn per hour to make ends meet — while enjoying modest participation in civic, cultural and community life. A living wage covers expenses such as childcare, housing, food and transportation.
Two years running
The GTA has the highest rate in the province this year. Last year, the living wage in the GTA was $27.20, also the highest in Ontario.
“The calculations gather expenses for three types of households (including) two adults supporting two small children, a single parent, and a single adult,” the news release said. “The results are then aggregated and include any applicable government taxes, transfers and benefits. A living wage rate reflects the actual cost of living in different communities across Ontario.”
The living wage calculation for Ottawa in 2026 was $24.10. The living wage calculation in Hamilton was $23.10.
The minimum wage in Ontario is $17.95 an hour, effective Oct. 1.
According to the OLWN, there is no region in Ontario where minimum wage is enough to afford the cost of living.
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