Work and Legal Basics

Bay Street · Experience date Dec 21, 2025

Ontario minimum wage: $17.20 CAD/hour as of October 2024 (indexed annually to inflation). Student minimum wage: $16.20/hour (students under 18 working 28 hours or fewer during school weeks). Liquor servers minimum wage: $15.60/hour. Overtime threshold: time-and-a-half after 44 hours/week. Vacation pay: minimum 4% of gross wages (2 weeks) accrued per pay period, or 6% after 5 years. Public holiday pay: Ontario has 9 public holidays — employees entitled to public holiday pay plus premium pay for working on the holiday. These apply to most Ontario workers including temporary foreign workers and those on work permits. File complaints with Ontario's Ministry of Labour for violations.

North York · Experience date Feb 2, 2026

English language tests accepted for Canadian immigration: IELTS General Training (most common), CELPIP General (Canada-specific, online, faster results), TEF Canada or TCF Canada (French). Express Entry CRS points: CLB 9+ in all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) — IELTS 7 or above in all bands. Prepare: at least 3–4 weeks of dedicated practice, use IELTS practice tests from British Council or IDP. IELTS in Toronto: multiple test centres including British Council and IDP. CELPIP: some prefer it as it's designed specifically for Canadian English. Both accepted equally by IRCC. Book tests 4–8 weeks ahead — centres fill quickly. A strong IELTS score is the single highest-value action you can take to improve your CRS score if otherwise qualified.

Etobicoke · Experience date Dec 5, 2025

Ontario's 2021 Working for Workers Act made non-compete clauses largely unenforceable for most Ontario employees — you can work for a competitor after leaving your job without legal consequence in most cases. Exception: executives and very senior employees in some circumstances. Non-solicitation clauses (cannot poach former employer's clients or colleagues): still enforceable if reasonable in scope and duration. Probationary period: many Toronto employers have 3-month probation — different termination rights apply. Reviewing your contract: have an Ontario employment lawyer review your contract before signing if you have concerns about any clause ($300–500 one-time fee, often worth it for senior positions). Ontario Labour Relations Board: complaints about workplace violations filed here at no cost to the employee.

Midtown · Experience date Feb 28, 2026

IEC (International Experience Canada) allows youth (18–35) from partner countries to live and work in Canada for 1–2 years without a job offer. Partner countries include: UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and many others. Programs: Working Holiday (open work permit — work for any employer), Young Professionals (employer-specific), International Co-op. Apply via IRCC pool system: create a profile, enter the pool, wait for Invitation to Apply (ITA). Multiple draws per year. Application fee: $156 CAD + biometrics $85 CAD. Very popular pathway for young expats wanting to experience Toronto without a full immigration process. Renewable: in some cases, a second IEC work permit is available.

Midtown · Experience date Dec 17, 2025

LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment): your Canadian employer advertises the position, demonstrates no qualified Canadian was available, and applies to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Timeline: ESDC processing 2–6 months, then IRCC work permit processing 2–8 weeks. Total: often 6–12 months from employer decision to your first day. High-wage LMIA: for positions over provincial median wage. LMIA-exempt: faster for qualifying workers. Global Talent Stream (GTS): expedited LMIA for specific tech occupations — 2-week processing target. For expats approaching Toronto on a job offer: ensure your employer is familiar with GTS or LMIA-exempt pathways if possible — traditional LMIA is slow. IRCC website has current processing estimates.

Bay Street · Experience date Dec 25, 2025

Regulated professions in Ontario (medicine, nursing, engineering, law, teaching, architecture): require professional licence from the relevant regulatory college before practice. These are Ontario-specific bodies: CPSO (College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario), PEO (Professional Engineers Ontario), LSUC (Law Society of Upper Canada). International credential recognition: process and timing varies — some take 6 months, some 2+ years. Engineers: National Professional Practice Exam (NPPE) required, foreign-educated engineers go through PEAK (Program for Engineering Access in Canada). Doctors: Canadian certification exams required regardless of foreign qualifications. Start this process before arriving if possible — it will determine how quickly you can practice in your profession.

Scarborough · Experience date Jan 2, 2026

Ontario Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and services based on: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, family status, disability, and record of offences (pardoned). As an expat: these protections apply to you regardless of immigration status. Employer discrimination against you based on national origin or citizenship is prohibited. Landlord discrimination based on national origin, citizenship, or family status is prohibited. Filing a complaint: Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (free, accessible). Note: citizenship can be a factor in some specific employment requirements (security clearances, certain government roles) — this is a legitimate exemption.