Minimum Wage – 2023 Year in Review

ALBERTA

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mar 17: The government says it won’t introduce a liquor server minimum wage or make any other structural changes to the system. The remarks are in response to a new Minimum Wage Expert Panel report finding that increasing the minimum wage from $10.20 to $15.00 between 2015 and 2018 cost the Alberta economy roughly 23,000 jobs.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

BRITISH COLUMBIA

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jan 1: BC increased the agriculture piece-rate minimum wage for by 2.8% covering farm workers who hand-harvest 15 agricultural crops, including peaches, apricots, Brussel sprouts, daffodils, mushrooms, apples, beans, blueberries, cherries, grapes, pears, peas, prune plums, raspberries and strawberries.

Apr 5: To adjust for inflation, BC announced that it’s increasing its general minimum wage from $15.65 to $16.75 per hour on June 1. The same 6.9% inflation adjustment will apply to separate minimum wages for residential caretakers, live-in home support workers and camp leaders.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

Jun 1: BC increased its general minimum wage by $1.10 to $16.75 per hour, one of the highest in Canada. The same 6.9% inflation adjustment applies to separate minimum wages for residential caretakers, live-in home support workers and camp leaders.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

MANITOBA

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jan 1: The Manitoba minimum wage increases from $13.50 to $14.15 per hour on April 1, 2023. On Oct. 1, the minimum wage will go up another 85 cents to $15.00 per hour. Future increases thereafter will be plugged to the Consumer Price Index.

Feb 24: From now through March 17, Manitoba will be running an online survey on regulating wage rates for apprentices as part of its plan to increase the general minimum wage to $15 per hour by Oct. 2023.

Mar 1: Small businesses impacted by the recent minimum wage increases can get financial support through Manitoba’s new Small Business Minimum Wage Adjustment Program in the form a one-time lump sum payment of up to $10,400 paid out in direct deposits of $520 per eligible employee.

Mar 17: Manitoba completed an online survey initiative asking whether the province should establish minimum wage rates for apprentices.

Apr 1: The general minimum wage is increasing 85 cents to $14.15 per hour. A second increase of $1.10 will take effect on Oct. 1 sending the minimum wage to $15.30 per hour. By then, Manitoba’s minimum wage will have gone up $3.35 since Sept. 2022.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

Apr 1: Manitoba completed Phase 1 of its transition to the $15 per hour minimum wage by increasing the general rate 85 cents to $14.15 per hour. A second increase of $1.15 is scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1 sending the minimum wage to $15.30 per hour.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

Oct 1: After increasing the general minimum wage to $14.15 per hour in April, Manitoba is implementing another $1.15 increase sending the rate to $15.30 per hour. Further annual changes will be pegged to the CPI index.

Oct 1: After increasing the general minimum wage to $14.15 per hour in April, Manitoba implemented another $1.15 increase sending the rate to $15.30 per hour. Further annual changes will be pegged to the CPI index.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

NEW BRUNSWICK

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jan 30: New Brunswick is implementing another $1.00 increase to its general minimum wage on April 1, the third such increase in 12 months, taking the minimum wage to an Atlantic Canada high of $14.75 per hour. However, that distinction won’t last because NL, NS and PEI are moving to a $15 minimum wage.

Apr 1: For the third time in 12 months, New Brunswick increased its general minimum wage by $1.00 to what is now an Atlantic Canada high of $14.75 per hour. However, that distinction belies the fact that unlike Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick hasn’t made the commitment to go to a $15 minimum wage.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Apr 1: Reminder: Today is the day that Newfoundland increases its minimum wage by 80 cents to $14.50 per hour. Another 50-cent increase will take effect on Oct. 1, 2023 bringing the province to the magic $15.00 per hour mark.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

Oct 1: The Newfoundland general minimum wage finally reached $15.00 per hour. The latest 50-cent increase follows the 80-cent increase in April which took the minimum wage to $14.50 per hour.

NOVA SCOTIA

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jan 5: The Nova Scotia Minimum Wage Review Committee proposed increasing the minimum wage 90 cents to $14.50 per hour on April 1; the rate will then rise to $15.00 on October 1. Future increases after that would be pegged to the previous year’s consumer price index (CPI), starting April 1, 2024.

Feb 3: Nova Scotia accepted the Minimum Wage Review Committee’s recommendation of moving up the increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour to Oct. 1, 2023, 6 months earlier than was originally scheduled.

Oct 1: That’s the date that Nova Scotia’s general minimum wage officially increases 50 cents to the magical $15.00 per hour level. Future annual increases will be pegged to the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation.

Oct 1: Nova Scotia’s raised its general minimum wage 50 cents to $15.00 per hour. Future annual minimum wage increases will be pegged to the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jul 10: The GNWT announced that it’s increasing the general minimum 85 cents to $16.05 per hour as a result of inflation, effective September 1, 2023. That’s the first increase since the minimum wage went from $13.46 to $15.20 in September 2021.

NUNAVUT

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jun 25: The GN concluded online surveying on the minimum wage. Nunavut hasn’t changed its minimum wage since increasing the rate to a then national high of $16 per hour on April 1, 2020.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

Nov 6: Nunavut, which already has one of the highest minimum wages of any jurisdiction at $16.00 per hour, announced that it’s increasing its minimum wage another $3.00 to $19.00 per hour on January 1, 2024, which will be by far the highest in Canada.

ONTARIO

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mar 31: To keep up with the 6.8% increase in the cost of living, Ontario announced that it’s increasing its minimum wage from $15.50 to $16.55 per hour, effective Oct. 1. Barring changes, that would give Ontario the second highest minimum wage of any province trailing only BC at $16.75 per hour.

Oct 1: Ontario’s general minimum wage increases $1.05 to $16.55 per hour. Special minimum wages also increase for: i. students under age 18, who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session or work during a school break or summer holidays: from $14.60 to $15.60; ii. homeworkers who work out of their own homes for employers: from $17.05 to $18.20; and iii. hunting, fishing and wilderness guides: from $77.60 to $82.85 per day when working less than 5 consecutive hours in day; and from $155.25 to $165.75 per day when working 5 or more hours in a day.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jan 1: The new PEI Minimum Wage Order provides for an 80-cent increase to $14.50 per hour on April 1, followed by a 50-cent increase to $15.00 per hour. Starting April 1, 2024, future increases will be indexed to the Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year.

Jun 15: The PEI Employment Standards Board concluded its minimum wage annual review. Meanwhile, the general minimum wage is scheduled to increase 50 cents to $15.00 per hour on October 1, 2023.

Oct 1: That’s the date the PEI general minimum wage is scheduled to increase 50 cents to the magic $15.00 per hour rate.

Oct 1: After increasing to $14.50 on January 1, Prince Edward Island’s general minimum wage is going up another 50 cents to $15.00 per hour. Maximum deductions remain $61.60 per week for board and lodging, $49.50 per week for board only, $27.50 per week for lodging only and $4.25 for single meals.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

QUÉBEC

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jan 18: Québec announced that it’s raising the general minimum wage $1.00 to $15.25 on May 1, 2023. The minimum wage for tip earners will increase 80 cents to $12.20 per hour, while the per kilogram rates for pickers of raspberries and strawberries will increase to $4.53 (+30 cents) and $1.21 (+8 cents), respectively.

March 6: After resisting the idea, Québec will go to the $15 minimum. In fact, the general minimum wage will increase $1.00 to $15.25 per hour on May 1. Separate minimum wages: $12.20 per hour for tip earners, $4.53 per kg for raspberry pickers and $1.21 per kg for strawberry pickers.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

May 1: Québec increased its minimum wage by $1.00 to $15.25 per hour. Increases to separate minimum wages also took effect, including: $12.20 per hour for tip earners, $4.53 per kg for raspberry pickers and $1.21 per kg for strawberry pickers.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

SASKATCHEWAN

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Oct 1: Saskatchewan’s general minimum wage increases $1.00 to $14.00 per hour, the lowest in Canada. Another $1.00 increase is scheduled for October 1, 2024. Thereafter, annual increases will be pegged to inflation under the Consumer Price Index.

Oct 1: Saskatchewan increased its general minimum wage $1.00 but still has Canada’s lowest rate at $14.00 per hour. That may still be the case one year from now after next October’s scheduled $1.00 increase takes effect. At $14.75 per hour, New Brunswick is the only province that hasn’t reached or committed to reaching $15.00 per hour.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada

YUKON TERRITORY

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Feb 24: Yukon announced that it’s raising its minimum wage $1.07 to a Canada-high $16.77 per hour, effective April 1. The increase is the result of a 6.8% spike in the 2022 Consumer Price Index for Whitehorse.

Apr 1: Yukon raised its minimum wage $1.07 to a Canada-high $16.77 per hour. The increase is the result of a 6.8% spike in the 2022 Consumer Price Index for Whitehorse.
Action Point: Find out more about the latest round of minimum wage increases taking effect across Canada