App-Based Gig Workers Get General Minimum Wage Established By Ontario Government

The Ontario Government introduced new legislation that will give app-based gig workers a $15 minimum wage and transparency regarding their tips announced on Monday.

According to a survey conducted by Ipsos, 62 per cent of Ontarians agree that the province should guarantee a certain minimum level of income for technology platform or ‘gig’ workers. Screenshot.

The “Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act” permits app-based employees — such as ride-share drivers and couriers — to a $15 minimum wage and their tips.

Workers will also receive a recurring pay period and payday with their tips prohibited from being withheld by platform operators.

“As part of our plan to build a stronger economy that works for everyone, we want all workers to have every opportunity to earn a good living and provide for their families,” said Doug Ford, Ontario Premier. “It doesn’t matter if you work for a big company, a small business or for a rideshare app. Our government won’t leave any worker behind.”

Ford added that five Canadians work in the gig economy and says data predicts an increase in app-based workers.

The government’s proposals have laid out the following rights and protections for digital platform workers:

• Earning at least the general minimum wage for time worked

• The right to keep their tips along with regular pay periods

• The right to information and clarity around algorithms including

  • how pay is calculated; and

  • how and why a worker might be penalized in the allocation of work

• Written notice if they are being removed from the platform and why

• The right to resolve their work-related disputes in Ontario

• Protection from reprisal should they seek to assert their rights.

“No one working in Ontario should ever make less than minimum wage for an hour's work," said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour Training and Skills Development. “No one working in Ontario should be dismissed without notice, explanation, or recourse. No one should have to travel out of the country to resolve a workplace dispute or sign a contract they do not understand. These core rights are a foundation in our mission to help all workers earn bigger paychecks to take care of their families, not an endpoint.”

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Local Rideshare Company Rallies Community to Replace Child's Stolen Bike

It was all smiles for Caleb Armstrong as he received a new bike from Y Drive PTBO on Wednesday following a theft back in December 2020.

Erica Young (left), Y Drive PTBO co-owner, delivered the bike to Caleb Armstrong (right)

Erica Young, co-owner of Y Drive PTBO dropped off the new bike for Armstrong that was supplied through a community fund within the rideshare company.

She was met with a grateful, “Thank you, I like this bike a lot!” from Armstrong after he got on his new bike.

“He (Caleb) bikes all day long, all over town,” said Melinda Armstrong, Caleb’s aunt. “He’s gone until curfew and bikes around town with his buddy. I can’t put into words Y Drive replacing his bike. Caleb was upset for a while and this made his day, his summer!”

Robert Davidson — Young’s husband and business partner —witnessed the incident in front of PJ’s Diner on Sherbrooke Street during a rideshare drive.

Erica Young (left) and Robert Davidson (right) officially launched Y Drive PTBO on November 2020. Photo Courtesy of Robert Davidson.

Davidson saw Caleb getting tackled off his bike by another male but the rideshare co-owner was unable to assist.

He did the next best thing and went to the community to raise money for the bike and identify Caleb. All proceeds Y Drive PTBO made on Dec. 8 went towards the new bike according to their official Facebook post.

“Unfortunately while driving clients and with how fast it happened, there wasn’t much I could do at the time,” said Davidson. “We then decided to make a post online asking for anyone that could reach out with the kid’s name or contact as we wanted to help.”

Y Drive PTBO’s post received several comments and volunteers to donate money or a replacement bike while trying to identify Armstrong. Screenshot

Caleb was identified on the second week of March and Y Drive PTBO wanted to meet the 13-year old to select his bike. They decided to let him pick his bike online because of the red zone Peterborough was under.

“Community is really important to Peterborough,” said Davidson. “Inevitably, we as a city continue to grow and lost some of that charm. We want to be an example of how local can compete against larger businesses.”

Y Drive PTBO with their community fund has donated to several local GoFundMe fundraisers and One Roof Community Centre.

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Uride To Launch Ridesharing Program In Peterborough On November 27th

Uride, Canada’s Fastest Growing Ridesharing Company, is set to launch in Peterborough on Friday, November 27th, just in time for the holiday season. Uride began operations in Thunder Bay in March 2017, and now operates in eight cities across Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan—with a focus being to help fill the transportation void that exists amongst smaller communities across Canada, and to stop people from impaired driving.

In honour of the launch in Peterborough, Uride will be offering users in Peterborough up to 50% off all rides by inputting promo code URIDEPTBO when making a booking. This promotion will expire after Sunday, December 13th. Anyone interested in booking a Uride can download the Uride app from the App Store or Google Play Store, or visit the Uride website here. 

“Peterborough deserves ridesharing, especially during the holiday’s when demand for private transportation is at its highest and wait times can be exceedingly long,” says Skye Volpi, Uride’s COO.

“Having access to safe and reliable private transportation is important for a lot of people, especially under the current circumstances with Covid-19 where people are concerned about using public transit services,” he adds. “We believe Uride can provide just that for Peterborough.”

Over the coming months, Uride will continue to work with city officials to consult on the implementation of ridesharing bylaw that promotes safety and competition amongst private transportation companies in Peterborough.

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