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Minimum Wage Rates Across Canada 2026 – Know The Laws Of Your Province

Seven provinces and territories increased their minimum wage rates for inflation this Spring, including the Maritimes, British Columbia, Québec, and Yukon. Instead of a CPI adjustment, Nova Scotia implemented a predetermined 25-increase in April, to be followed by another 25-cent increase on October 1, ultimately resulting in a $17.00 per hour general minimum wage, which is tied with Prince Edward Island for the highest in the Maritimes.

Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut will implement annual increases for 2026 in the fall. No minimum wage increase is currently scheduled in Alberta, even though it has Canada’s lowest minimum wage at $15.00 per hour. Nunavut has the highest minimum wage rate at $19.75.

FEDERAL

General Minimum Wage: $17.75 per hour or minimum wage of province of employment, whichever is higher.

Separate Minimum Wages: None.

Scheduled Increases: Annual CPI increases.

ALBERTA

General Minimum Wage: $15.00 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages:

  • Students ages 13-17 for work done during school breaks or first 28 hours per week of work done while not on break: $13 per hour; additional hours per week beyond 28 hours: $15 per hour.
  • Salespersons: $598 per week.
  • Domestics: $2,848 per month.

Scheduled Increases: None.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

General Minimum Wage: $18.25 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages:

  • Online Platform Workers: $21.89 per hour.
  • Distance Expense Allowance for Delivery Services: $0.35 per km while using a form of transport other than walking.
    • Distance Expense Allowance for Ride-Hail Services: $0.45 per km while operating a motor vehicle.
  • Liquor Servers: $18.25 per hour.
  • Live-in home support workers: $135.88 per day or part day worked.
  • Live-in Camp Leaders: $145.64 per day or part day worked.
  • Resident Caretakers of apt. buildings with 9 to 60 suites: $1,092.10 per month + $43.75 per suite.
  • Resident Caretakers of apt. buildings with >60 suites: $3,719.96 per month.
  • Alternate Piece Rates for Harvest Workers: Depends on crop.

Scheduled Increases: Regular annual increases based on inflation every June 1; Piece-rate wages for hand-picked crops increase every December 1.

MANITOBA

General Minimum Wage: $16.00 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages:

  • Skilled Tradesperson Trainee 1 (<1,200 cumulative hours worked in trade): Depends on trade.
  • Skilled Tradesperson Trainee 2 (1,200 to 2,399 cumulative hours worked in trade): Depends on trade.
  • Skilled Tradesperson Trainee 3 (2,400 or more cumulative hours worked in trade): Depends on trade.

Scheduled Increases: Regular increases indexed for inflation every October 1.

NEW BRUNSWICK

General Minimum Wage: $15.90 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages: Alternate rates for construction workers, camp leaders and workers whose hours can’t be verified.

Scheduled Increases: Annual CPI adjustments every April 1.

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

General Minimum Wage: $16.35 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages: None.

Scheduled Increases: Annual increase indexed for inflation rounded up to nearest nickel every April 1.

NOVA SCOTIA

General Minimum Wage: $16.75 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages:

  • Alternate rates for logging, forestry, construction workers based on hourly/monthly:
  • Hourly: $16.75 per hour.
    • Monthly: $3,293.10 per month. 

Scheduled Increases:

  • General minimum wage increases 25 cents to $17.00 per hour on October 1, 2026.
  • Alternate rates for logging, forestry, construction workers:
  • Hourly: Increases to $17.00 per hour on October 1, 2026.
  • Monthly: Increases to $3,342.20 per month on October 1, 2026.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

General Minimum Wage: $16.95 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages: None.

Scheduled Increases: Annual CPI increases every September 1.

NUNAVUT

General Minimum Wage: $19.75 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages: None.

Scheduled Increases: Annual CPI increases every September 1.

ONTARIO

General Minimum Wage: $17.60 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages:

  • Students under 18: $16.60 per hour.
  • Hunting & fishing guides: $88.05 per day (< 5 consecutive hours in a day).
  • Hunting & fishing guides: $176.15 per day (5 or more hours in a day, whether or not consecutive).
  • Homeworkers: $19.35 per hour.

Scheduled Increases: Annual CPI adjustments every October 1.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

General Minimum Wage: $17.00 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages: None.

Scheduled Increases: Annual CPI increases every April 1.

QUÉBEC

General Minimum Wage: $16.60 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages:

  • Tip Earners: $13.30 per hour.
  • Raspberry pickers: $4.93 per kilogram.
  • Strawberry pickers: $1.32 per kilogram.

Scheduled Increases: Annual CPI increases every May 1.

SASKATCHEWAN

General Minimum Wage: $15.35 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages: None.

Scheduled Increases: Annual CPI increases every October 1.

YUKON TERRITORY

General Minimum Wage: $18.51 per hour.

Separate Minimum Wages:

  • $42.95 per hour for Category A Class workers.
  • $38.50 per hour for Category B Class workers.
  • $34.16 per hour for Category C Class workers.
  • $31.00 per hour for Category D Class workers.

Scheduled Increases: Annual CPI increases every April 1.