The main problem is that the increase is too much too fast. Many commenters here clearly don't understand how to run a business and how difficult it is.  There seems to be a class or political belief that only a certain type of job is acceptable. The living wage argument  is a rhetorical triumph of the Left ...only 2.2% of minimum wage earners are single heads of households. Also, the cost of living in Toronto is a far cry from the rest of ON. The Seattle experience should alarm everyone. Wages went up there on a lower % basis than what is planned in ON and the full impact has yet to be measured. And yet, minimum wage earners were $100 worse off after the increase because their hours were cut. 

Those in favour of the increase, would you also write a law making it illegal to cut hours in response to being forced to pay higher wages? Have you seen what is happening in Venezuela?