Ontario minimum wage rises to $17.95, but Durham workers say costs still too high

Ontario's general minimum wage increased from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour on October 1, a 35-cent increase tied to the Ontario Consumer Price Index. The provincial government says the increase will benefit more than 700,000 workers across Ontario, and that a full-time minimum-wage worker will receive about $728 more a year before taxes.

Some Durham workers say it is not enough. Saad Noor, who works at Real Canadian Superstore and drives for Uber about five hours a day, told Wesal TV he has been out of high school for two years but cannot afford to start college, and would like to see the minimum wage reach at least $22 an hour. Whitby resident Habibullah Sabir called the increase a positive step but said workers are still struggling with rent, groceries, electricity and transportation costs.

Summary compiled by Daily Durham News from Wesal TV reporting by Abdul Basit Karokhel.