Watchdog warns 50,000 job cuts could result from Ont. minimum wage hike

TORONTO -- The province's financial watchdog says that Ontario's proposed minimum wage hike could result in more than 50,000 job losses.

In a report released today, Financial Accountability Officer Stephen LeClair estimates that job losses will be concentrated among teens and young adults.

In July, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced her government would increase Ontario's minimum wage to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2019.

The FAO report says that because of the dramatic nature of the minimum wage increase it will provide greater incentive for businesses to aggressively reduce costs.

The report also says the new policy will increase the number of minimum wage workers in Ontario from just over 500,000 to 1.6 million in 2019.

Groups representing both small and large businesses across Ontario have said the minimum wage increase would lead to layoffs.

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