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Canada has both federal and provincial minimum wage rates. In response to rising inflation and general increases in the cost of living, Canada’s federal government as well as 8 of the 13 provinces and territories instituted minimum wage increases in 2022.
The federal minimum wage is currently CAD$17.30. Note, that the federal minimum wage only applies to Canadians working in federally regulated sectors such as banking, interprovincial transportation, postal services and federal Crown corporations.
In 1996 the federal minimum wage was re-defined to be the minimum wage of the province or territory where the work is performed. This means that, if the minimum wage of the province or territory where the employee usually works is higher than the federal minimum wage, the employee is to receive the higher minimum wage.
The provincial minimum wage applies to employees working in industries that are not classed as ‘federally-regulated’. See the table below.
Yes. See provincial minimum wage rates.
In the 5 years between 2017 and 2023 the hourly minimum wage increased in all of Canada’s 10 provinces and 3 territories.
Looking at Ontario specifically, the minimum wage was CAD$11.60 in 2017 and reached CAD$15.00 in 2022. The Ontario minimum wage rate increases annually on October 1st based on changes to the CPI measure of inflation.
In the 2021 budget, the Government of Canada announced that: beginning April 1st 2022, the federal minimum wage for federally regulated industries will rise annually with the CPI measure of inflation.
| Province | Minimum Wage (CAD) | Effective Since |
|---|---|---|
| NU | CAD$16.00 | April 1, 2021 |
| YT | CAD$17.59 | April 1, 2024 |
| BC | CAD$17.40 | Jun 1, 2024 |
| NWT | CAD$16.05 | Sep 1, 2023 |
| AB | CAD$15.00 | Oct 1, 2018 |
| ON | CAD$16.55 | Oct 1, 2023 |
| QC | CAD$15.75 | May 1, 2024 |
| PEI | CAD$15.40 | Apr 1, 2024 |
| NS | CAD$15.20 | Apr 1, 2024 |
| NL | CAD$15.60 | Apr 1, 2024 |
| NB | CAD$15.30 | Apr 1, 2024 |
| MB | CAD$15.30 | Oct 1, 2023 |
| SK | CAD$15.00 | Oct 1, 2024 |
Canada shares a 8,891km land border with the United States. 3,000km off Canada’s Atlantic coast, the self-governing island of Greenland is officially part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
In the USA, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 (≈CAD$9.40) per hour, however the introduction of the Raise the Wage Act in 2021 will progressively increase the federal minimum wage to $15 (≈CAD$19.40) per hour by 2025.
Out of the USA’s 50 states, 30 have a higher minimum wage than the federal minimum wage; including the state of Alaska where the minimum wage is $10.85 (CAD$13.40).
When looking at Greenland, it’s important to note that Denmark differs from other European countries in that there isn’t a single labor code that sets out a legal minimum wage. In Denmark/Greenland, all working conditions, including wages, are prescribed individually in each contract.
No. The provincial / territorial minimum wage rate is the same for both Canadian citizens and immigrants.
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The average wage in Canada varies by province or territory, but in Ontario (the most heavily populated province), the median wage is CAD$26.06 per hour — approximately $11 per hour above the minimum wage in that province.
No. For any professional or highly skilled job, a higher wage will be expected.
Canada – Provincial Minimum Wage Rates
