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ALBERTA: a. Earnings must be paid in Canadian currency in cash or by cheque, bill of exchange or order to pay, payable on demand, drawn on a bank, credit union, loan corporation, trust corporation or other CDC-insured institution; and b. Employers may choose to pay by direct deposit into an account of the employee’s choice at one of the above institutions [Employment Standards Code, Sec. 11].
BRITISH COLUMBIA: a. Wages must be paid in Canadian currency, by cheque, draft or money order, payable on demand, drawn on a savings institution; and b. Direct deposit to an employee’s account in a savings institution okay if authorized by the employee in writing or by a collective agreement [Employment Standards Act, Sec. 20].
FEDERAL: Canada Labour Code doesn’t stipulate acceptable employer methods of paying wages.
MANITOBA: a. Wages must be paid in Canadian currency, by cheque or bill of exchange drawn on a bank, credit union, trust company or other CDC-insured company; and b. Employers may choose to pay by direct deposit into employee’s account at one of the above institutions [Employment Standards Code, Sec. 88].
NEW BRUNSWICK: a. Employer must pay in Canadian currency, by cheque or bill of exchange drawn on a chartered bank, credit union, trust company or other CDC-insured institution and honoured and paid by institution; and b. Employers may choose to pay by direct deposit into employee’s account at one of the above institutions [Employment Standards Act, Sec. 36(2)].
NEWFOUNDLAND/LABRADOR: a. Employer must pay all wages in Canadian currency, by cheque or order drawn on a bank where employee has an account; and b. Employer may pay by direct deposit with employee’s consent into an account of a bank of employee’s choice [Labour Standards Act, Sec. 34(2)].
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES/NUNAVUT: a. All wages must be paid in Canadian currency or by cheque or bill of exchange drawn on a bank or credit union designated by employee; and b. Employers may choose to pay by direct deposit into an account designated by employee [Labour Standards Act, Sec. 50(6)].
NOVA SCOTIA: a. Wages must be paid in Canadian currency, by cheque, bill of exchange or demand for payment drawn on a chartered bank, credit union, trust company or other CDC-insured company; and b. Employers may choose to pay by direct deposit into employee’s account at one of the above institutions [Labour Standards Code, Sec. 80].
ONTARIO: a. Wages must be paid by cash, cheque payable only to the employee; and b. Employers may choose to pay by direct deposit into an account of a financial institution, if: i. The account is in the employee’s name; ii. Nobody other than the employee or a person authorized by the employee has access to the account; and, iii. Unless the employee agrees otherwise, an office or facility of the financial institution is located “within a reasonable distance” from the location the employee usually works [Employment Standards Act, Secs. 11(2) & 11(4)].
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: The PEI Employment Standards Act doesn’t stipulate which methods of paying wages are acceptable.
QUÉBEC: a. Employer must pay all wages in cash in a sealed envelope or by cheque; and b. Payment may be made by “bank transfer” if so provided in a written agreement or decree [Labour Standards Act, Sec. 42].
SASKATCHEWAN: a. Wages must be paid in Canadian currency or by cheque drawn upon a chartered bank or a credit union; b. Employers may choose to pay by direct deposit into employee’s account at chartered bank or credit union [Labour Standards Act, Sec. 49(1)].
YUKON: a. All wages must be paid in Canadian currency, by cheque, bill of exchange, or order to pay, payable on demand, drawn on a savings institution; and b. Employers may choose to pay by direct deposit into an account of a savings institution designated by employee [Labour Standards Act, Sec. 67].