More vacation time for workers, Wynne vows

Ontario government promises three-week minimum, despite concerns of business owners

Ontario is raising the minimum paid vacation from two weeks annually to three for all workers with five or more years at the same job, says Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Wynne told the Star the change is part of sweeping labour reforms be- ing announced Tuesday at Queen’s Park that will take effect before the next election on June 7, 2018.

The premier noted many European countries already mandate far longer paid holidays than three weeks a year.

The provincial government will also outline the timetable for raising the hourly minimum wage from $11.40 to $15 and reveal measures for making it easier for workers to join unions.

Wynne and Labour Minister Kevin Flynn are using the 419-page Chang- ing Workplaces Review, which was released last week, as the blueprint for reform legislation to be tabled this fall.

Prepared by special advisers C. Michael Mitchell and John C. Murray, the review made 173 recommendations on improving job conditions for Ontarians.

With Ontario’s economy leading the nation in growth, the premier said “we are in a position now” to take bold action to help workers.

But she is bracing for backlash from business groups concerned about rising labour costs.

“There’s going to be howling. The business community will be yelling at me. People will yell about the three weeks,” Wynne said.

“The biggest issue that we’re dealing with is people who can’t make ends meet. It’s just not enough . . . they can’t do it on $11.40 an hour,” she said.

To allay concerns from business, the government will be “phasing in” the minimum wage rise to $15, Wynne said, but she declined to say what the timetable would be.