Uber is calling on Doug Ford to raise the minimum wage for gig workers to $18 an hour

Ride-sharing giant Uber Technologies is calling on the Doug Ford government to boost minimum wages for gig workers in Ontario to $18 an hour

CTVNews has learned Uber Canada sent a letter to every provincial government this week calling for new "legislative standards" for app-based workers as a growing number of Canadians rely on technology companies for their income.

The letter addressed to Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton, obtained by CTV News, outlines a number of measures that the company claims would "significantly improve the quality of app-based work."

Among them, the company is urging the government to increase minimum wage for gig workers to $18 an hour -- up from the current $15 per hour — to account for time spent waiting for jobs, as well as other expenses, such as gas and insurance.

Uber is also calling for a "benefits fund" that would give gig workers who have an average of 20 hours of "engaged time" on an app access to money for health and dental benefits.