Ontario increasing minimum wage to $11.25, second highest in Canada

Ontario's Legislative Building sits on the historic grounds of Queen's Park in downtown Toronto. (Frank Gunn / CP)

Ontario is raising the hourly minimum wage by 25 cents starting in October, raising the wage to the second highest in the country.

In a statement Thursday, the Ministry of Labour said, as a result of recent changes to the Employment Standards Act the general minimum wage will increase from $11 to $11.25 per hour, effective Oct. 1.

Upgrades to the act tie the minimum wage to Statistics Canada's Consumer Price Index.

Ontario and Nunavut currently pay the highest minimum wages at $11 per hour, but the minimum wage in Northwest Territories will increase to $12.50 in June.

Minimum wages in Canada are as follows (ranked from highest to lowest):

Minimum wage rates will also increase for those working in special categories including liquor servers, homeworkers and students.

A detailed list of increases is available below: