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Niagara Living Wage Upped to $19.80 Per Hour

Previous living wage for region was $18.90 an hour.

A new report suggests Ontario's minimum wage is not enough for residents to live comfortably in any part of the province.

The Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) says in Niagara, residents need to make $19.80 an hour, while Torontonians need to earn at least $23.15 per hour. 

Factors included in the calculation include the costs of food, rent, tenant insurance, clothing, transportation, hydro, childcare, internet and cell phone services, medical expenses, and life and illness insurance. 

"A living wage is calculated by the OLWN to show how much a worker must earn in order to make ends meet and enjoy modest participation in civic and cultural community," the agency says. 

The calculations look at expenses for three types of households: a single adult, a single parent, and two adults with two kids. 

On October 1st, the province increased minimum wage to $15.50 an hour. 

Officials say the rate will increase every year on October 1st, and the new wage is expected to be announced by April 1st. 

The full report from the OLWN can be found here

 

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