Ontario’s minimum wage may go up in the fall.

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton announced today the province will wage minimum wage from $15 to $15.50 an hour starting in October. That, coupled with the minimum wage increase in January, is an eight per cent increase, the minister says.

The move comes in a time of rising inflation. The rate of inflation was 5.7 per cent in March.

It will have to be passed in the provincial legislature.

The next increase this fall, which is tied to the Consumer Price Index, means that workers earning the general minimum wage and working 40 hours per week would see their annual pay rise by $1,768. Liquor servers who work 40 hours per week would see an annual raise of $5,512 according to the province.

This is the second “money in your pocket” announcement the provincial government has made this week, offering a rebate in gas taxes which would take effect in July – after the provincial election.