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Minimum wage by province in Canada (2025–2026)
Every Canadian province and territory sets its own general minimum wage, and most adjust it annually — usually on April 1st or October 1st. The table below shows the current general adult minimum wage in each jurisdiction, the date it took effect, and any scheduled increase we know about.
| Province / Territory | Current rate | Effective since | Next change | On |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $15.00 | Oct 1, 2018 | — | — |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | Jun 1, 2025 | Indexed to BC CPI | Jun 1, 2026 |
| Manitoba | $15.80 | Oct 1, 2024 | $16.00 | Oct 1, 2025 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | Apr 1, 2025 | Indexed to NB CPI | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | Apr 1, 2025 | Indexed to NL CPI | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Northwest Territories | $16.70 | Sep 1, 2024 | — | — |
| Nova Scotia | $15.70 | Apr 1, 2025 | Indexed + $0.30 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Nunavut | $19.00 | Jan 1, 2024 | — | — |
| Ontario | $17.20 | Oct 1, 2024 | $17.60 (est.) | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Prince Edward Island | $16.00 | Oct 1, 2024 | $16.50 | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | May 1, 2025 | — | — |
| Saskatchewan | $15.00 | Oct 1, 2024 | Indexed to CPI + AWE | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Yukon | $17.94 | Apr 1, 2025 | Indexed to Whitehorse CPI | Apr 1, 2026 |
How minimum wage increases work in Canada
There is no single federal minimum wage that applies to most workers. The federal minimum wage (currently $17.75/hr as of April 1, 2025, indexed annually to CPI) only applies to employees in federally regulated industries — banks, interprovincial transportation, telecommunications, and a few others. Everyone else is covered by their province or territory.
Most jurisdictions now index their minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index, so rates tick up automatically each year. A few — Alberta and Nunavut, for example — only change when the government legislates a new rate.
What small business owners should do before each rate change
- Update each affected employee's hourly rate in your payroll system before the first pay period that crosses the effective date.
- Recalculate overtime, vacation pay accruals, and statutory holiday pay against the new rate.
- Review tipped, student, liquor-server, and home-worker categories — several provinces set different rates for these.
- Post the updated minimum wage notice if your province requires one (e.g. Ontario, BC).
Disclaimer: Rates above are the general adult minimum wage and are provided for reference only. Always confirm the current rate and any sub-category rates (students, liquor servers, home workers, etc.) with the official labour standards authority in your province or territory before running payroll.
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