Minimum wage in Canada by province, Nov. 2026

Updated Nov. 2, 2026

Minimum wage in Canada ranges from $15 an hour in Alberta to $20.17 in Nunavut, according to provincial and territorial government pages checked on Nov. 2, 2026. Ontario is at $17.95 and British Columbia at $18.25. The federal rate for federally regulated workplaces is $18.15.

What is the minimum wage in each province and territory?

The table below lists the general adult hourly rate. Each rate links to the government page it came from. Yukon is marked not confirmed because the territory’s own minimum wage page still showed a 2019 rate when we checked, and we do not publish a figure we cannot source.

Several jurisdictions set their rates on a fixed calendar. Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island moved on Oct. 1, 2026. Quebec moved on May 1, B.C. on June 1, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut on Sept. 1, and the federal government, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador on April 1.

Which province has the highest minimum wage?

Nunavut has the highest rate at $20.17 an hour, followed by B.C. at $18.25 and the federal minimum of $18.15. Among provinces, Alberta has the lowest at $15, then Saskatchewan at $15.70 and New Brunswick at $15.90. Alberta’s page lists $15 and does not state a new rate or effective date.

How much is a full-time minimum wage worker paid?

Pay depends on hours, but a simple example shows the gap. At 40 hours a week, a worker earns $600 a week in Alberta, $718 in Ontario and $730 in B.C., before deductions. Over a 2,080-hour year, that is $31,200 in Alberta, $37,336 in Ontario and $37,960 in B.C., a difference of $6,760 a year between Alberta and B.C.

Those figures are the rate multiplied by hours, not take-home pay. Income tax, Canada Pension Plan contributions and Employment Insurance premiums come off the top, and our guide to average weekly earnings by province shows how wages compare once typical pay is included.

When do minimum wages go up next?

Only Prince Edward Island has published its next increase. An order signed March 31, 2026, sets the rate at $17.30 from Oct. 1, 2026, and $17.60 from April 1, 2027. Other governments have not announced new rates.

Most governments say they adjust on a set date using inflation. The federal government adjusts each April 1 using the prior year’s consumer price index, according to Employment and Social Development Canada. Ontario publishes its rate by April 1 for Oct. 1, and Saskatchewan announces by June 30 for Oct. 1. New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador also tie changes to inflation. Dates beyond what each government has stated are expected cycles, not commitments.

Does the federal minimum wage apply to me?

The federal rate of $18.15 applies only to federally regulated employers, such as banks, airlines, interprovincial transport and telecommunications companies. Most workers fall under their province or territory, so the provincial rate in the table is the one that applies. Some provinces also set different rules for certain jobs, so check the linked page for your situation.

What other pay rules change in 2027?

Minimum wage is not the only payroll number moving. Our guide to new rules on Jan. 1, 2027 covers Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan changes, and our report on Whitehorse’s living wage shows how far a minimum wage sits from local living costs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Ontario in 2026?

Ontario’s general minimum wage is $17.95 an hour from Oct. 1, 2026, to Sept. 30, 2027, according to the Ontario government.

What is the minimum wage in Alberta in 2026?

Alberta’s government page lists a general minimum wage of $15 an hour. The page does not state a new rate or effective date.

Is the minimum wage the same for students and tipped workers?

Not always. Some provinces have separate rules for students, liquor servers or other jobs, so use the province’s own page for those rules.

Which provinces raised the minimum wage on Oct. 1, 2026?

Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, according to each government’s published rate.

Sources: Employment and Social Development Canada, and the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, linked in the table above. Yukon’s current rate could not be confirmed from an official page.

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