I don't know whether raising an employee's wage by 38% in one swoop is a good thing or a bad thing for (i) workers (ii) society and (iii) the poor stiffs that have to figure out how to pay it before they get paid.  On its face without facts, the government expropriating 38% more of someone's revenue without really knowing these answers does seem as a bad decision and heavy-handed.    I do know (like the green energy and Hydro gamble) that Ontario's citizens will find out in the fullness of time (and at their entire risk) whether the Liberals have (yet again) rolled the dice and driven another nail into what was once the best run economy in Canada.  That distinction now goes to the Province we used to laugh at- Quebec. Given the Liberal track record on building business in Ontario I would be prepared to give odds on the result for small business.