Nearly 700,000 Canadians engage in gig work through digital platforms in 2024

In 2024, nearly 700,000 Canadians worked through digital platforms, a 44% increase from 2023. This includes about 266,000 people delivering food and goods, with significant participation from racialized communities and new immigrants. Legislative changes in Ontario and British Columbia aim to improve conditions for gig workers, establishing minimum wage standards. In B.C., workers earn $20.88 per hour, while Ontario's rules will start in July 2025. Despite these changes, labor advocates express concerns that minimum wage only applies to "engaged time," leaving many workers undercompensated during idle periods. A Toronto report found rideshare drivers earn a median of $5.97 per hour when accounting for idle time and expenses.