Minimum Wage Canada 2026: Every Province and Territory Listed
Canada’s minimum wages changed on April 1, June 1, and will change again on October 1. British Columbia now leads all provinces at $18.25 per hour. The federal minimum wage rose to $18.15 on April 1. Ontario sits at $17.60 until October, when it goes up to $17.95. Alberta remains at $15.00, unchanged since 2018 and the lowest minimum wage of any province. Here’s every current rate, what’s changing in the fall, and what the minimum wage actually buys in Canadian cities.
$5
Flat fee, any amount
15 min
Via Interac e-Transfer
0
No credit check required
Minimum Wage in Canada 2026: Every Province and Territory
| Province / Territory | Current Rate (2026) | Effective Date | Next Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | $19.75 | — | — |
| Yukon | $18.51 | April 1, 2026 | — |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | June 1, 2026 | — |
| Federal (federally regulated workers) | $18.15 | April 1, 2026 | April 1, 2027 |
| Ontario | $17.60 → $17.95 | Currently $17.60; $17.95 from Oct 1, 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.75 → $17.00 | $16.75 now; $17.00 from Oct 1, 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
| Quebec | $16.60 | May 1, 2026 | — |
| Northwest Territories | $16.95 | September 1, 2025 | September 1, 2026 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $16.35 | April 1, 2026 | — |
| Manitoba | $16.00 → $16.40 | Currently $16.00; $16.40 from Oct 1, 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.00 → $17.30 | $17.00 now; $17.30 from Oct 1, 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | April 1, 2026 | — |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | October 1, 2025 | TBD October 2026 |
| Alberta | $15.00 | October 1, 2018 | No increase announced |
The federal rate applies to federally regulated workers in banking, air transport, ports, telecom, and most Crown corporations. In provinces where the federal rate is higher than the provincial rate, federally regulated employers have to pay the federal rate.
Federal Minimum Wage: $18.15 as of April 1, 2026
The federal minimum wage went up to $18.15 per hour on April 1, 2026, from $17.75 in 2025. The increase is tied to the prior year’s Consumer Price Index. Canada’s CPI rose 2.1% in 2025, producing the $0.40 increase rounded to the nearest $0.05.
The federal rate has risen 21% since the standalone federal minimum wage was introduced in 2021. It only applies to workers in federally regulated sectors. The majority of Canadian workers fall under provincial jurisdiction and are governed by their province’s rate.
BC: $18.25 Per Hour, Highest in Canada as of June 1
British Columbia’s minimum wage went up to $18.25 per hour on June 1, 2026, a $0.40 increase from $17.85. BC ties its rate to the prior year’s provincial CPI, rounded to the nearest $0.05. This formula has been in place since 2024 and applies regardless of pay type: hourly, salaried, commission, or incentive-based.
BC also has a separate, higher minimum for app-based ride-hailing and delivery workers during engaged time: $21.89 per hour as of June 1, 2026. This rate covers Uber, DoorDash, and similar platforms while the worker is actively completing a trip or delivery.
Ontario: $17.60 Now, $17.95 From October 1
Ontario’s minimum wage sits at $17.60 per hour through September 30, 2026. On October 1, it rises to $17.95, a $0.35 increase driven by Ontario’s 2026 CPI. The increase affects more than 700,000 Ontario workers and adds roughly $728 in annual earnings for a full-time worker compared to the current rate.
Ontario also has a student minimum wage ($16.60 now, $16.90 from October 1) that applies to students under 18 working 28 hours or fewer per week during the school year, and a homeworkers rate of $19.70 per hour starting October 1.
Alberta: $15.00, The Lowest in Canada and Unchanged Since 2018
Alberta’s minimum wage hasn’t increased since October 1, 2018, when it was set at $15.00 per hour. No increase has been announced for 2026. At $15.00, Alberta’s rate is the lowest of any Canadian province and $3.25 below the federal rate.
In dollar terms: a full-time minimum wage worker in Alberta earns approximately $31,200 per year gross. The same worker in BC earns approximately $37,960 per year. That’s a $6,760 annual difference on the same 40-hour week, before taxes. Alberta’s no-PST environment partially offsets this on the spending side, but not fully.
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Fall 2026 Increases
Manitoba’s minimum wage is currently $16.00 per hour and rises to $16.40 on October 1, 2026. Saskatchewan sits at $15.35, with any 2026 increase expected to be announced closer to October. Nova Scotia moves from $16.75 to $17.00 on October 1. Prince Edward Island goes from $17.00 to $17.30 on the same date.
October 1 is the most common effective date for provincial minimum wage increases in Canada. If you want to know what the rate will be on a specific date, that’s the one to watch.
The Living Wage Gap: What Minimum Wage Actually Buys
Minimum wage and living wage are two different numbers. The minimum wage is what employers are legally required to pay. The living wage is what workers actually need to earn to cover basic costs in the region where they live, calculated annually by independent organizations. In no major Canadian city does the minimum wage meet the living wage.
| City | Minimum Wage (2026) | Living Wage (2025 estimate) | Gap Per Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Vancouver, BC | $18.25 | ~$27.05 | ~$8.80 |
| Toronto, ON | $17.60 ($17.95 from Oct) | ~$27.20 | ~$9.60 |
| Calgary, AB | $15.00 | ~$26.50 | ~$11.50 |
| Ottawa, ON | $17.60 ($17.95 from Oct) | ~$23.40 | ~$5.80 |
Living wage figures are from 2025 calculations (the most recent available). The Ontario Living Wage Network estimates more than one million workers in Ontario’s urban areas earn below their region’s living wage. In Calgary, the gap between minimum wage and living wage is $11.50 per hour, the widest of any major Canadian city.
Key Takeaway
BC leads all provinces at $18.25 per hour. Ontario rises to $17.95 on October 1. Alberta remains the lowest at $15.00, unchanged since 2018. In every major Canadian city, the minimum wage falls short of the calculated living wage by $6 to $12 per hour.
Minimum Wage Workers and the Paycheque Gap
Most minimum wage workers in Canada are paid bi-weekly or weekly. A full-time worker at $18.25 per hour in BC earning roughly $37,960 per year still runs into the same problem as anyone else on a regular paycheque: bills don’t line up with pay dates, and unexpected expenses don’t wait for payday.
The bi-weekly pay gap is exactly 14 days. The semi-monthly gap can stretch to 17 days in December. When an expense shows up on day 10 of a 14-day cycle, there are four days left before the next paycheque. That’s not a financial crisis.. it’s a timing problem. Our guide on bi-weekly vs semi-monthly pay explains why the gap between paycheques matters more than most people realize.
NotchUp is an earned wage access service that advances money you have already earned against your next paycheque. It requires employment income, processes in about 15 minutes via Interac e-Transfer, and costs a flat $5 regardless of the amount. See the full comparison of cash advance apps in Canada for every available option side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Canada in 2026?
The federal minimum wage is $18.15 per hour as of April 1, 2026. Provincial rates range from $15.00 (Alberta, unchanged since 2018) to $18.25 (BC, effective June 1, 2026). Ontario is at $17.60 until October 1, when it goes up to $17.95. The highest rate in the country is Nunavut at $19.75 per hour.
What is minimum wage in BC in 2026?
It’s $18.25 per hour as of June 1, 2026, up from $17.85. That makes it the highest provincial minimum wage in Canada. App-based ride-hailing and delivery workers in BC earn a separate engaged-time minimum of $21.89 per hour as of the same date.
What is minimum wage in Ontario in 2026?
$17.60 per hour until September 30, 2026, then $17.95 per hour starting October 1, 2026. The student minimum wage is $16.60 now and rises to $16.90 on October 1.
Why is Alberta’s minimum wage so low?
Alberta’s minimum wage has been $15.00 per hour since October 2018 with no increase announced. The provincial government hasn’t tied it to a formula the way BC and Ontario have. At $15.00, it’s $3.25 below both the federal rate and the next-lowest provincial rate (Saskatchewan at $15.35). Alberta offsets some consumer cost through its no-provincial-sales-tax policy, but the gap with other provinces is still significant for minimum wage earners.
When is the next minimum wage increase in Canada?
October 1, 2026 is the next big date: Ontario rises to $17.95, Manitoba to $16.40, Nova Scotia to $17.00, and PEI to $17.30. Saskatchewan’s October 2026 rate hasn’t been announced yet. The federal rate adjusts annually on April 1 based on the prior year’s CPI.
Related Reading
Related reading: Bi-Weekly vs Semi-Monthly Pay Canada | Cash Advance Apps Canada | Early Wage Access Apps Canada | E-Transfer Loans Canada 24/7
