Updated September 24, 2026. Canada has no single minimum wage. Each province and territory sets its own, the federal government sets one for federally regulated workplaces, and they change on different dates. This page lists every current rate, the increases already announced, and the dates each jurisdiction usually adjusts — and we update it whenever a rate changes.
Quick Answer
From October 1, 2026, the highest general minimum wage is Nunavut at $20.17 and the lowest is Alberta at $15.00. Ontario rises to $17.95, British Columbia is $18.25, and the federal minimum wage — for banks, airlines, telecoms and other federally regulated employers — is $18.15.
Minimum Wage by Province and Territory (as of October 1, 2026)
| Jurisdiction | General minimum wage | In effect since | Usual adjustment date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | $20.17 | September 1, 2026 | September 1 |
| Yukon | $18.51 | April 1, 2026 | April 1 |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | June 1, 2026 | June 1 |
| Federal (federally regulated sectors) | $18.15 | April 1, 2026 | April 1 |
| Ontario | $17.95 | October 1, 2026 | October 1 |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.30 | October 1, 2026 | varies (next: April 1, 2027) |
| Northwest Territories | $17.20 | September 1, 2026 | September 1 |
| Nova Scotia | $17.00 | October 1, 2026 | varies |
| Quebec | $16.60 | May 1, 2026 | May 1 |
| Manitoba | $16.40 | October 1, 2026 | October 1 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | April 1, 2026 | April 1 |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | April 1, 2026 | April 1 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.70 | October 1, 2026 | October 1 |
| Alberta | $15.00 | October 1, 2018 | no annual adjustment |
Increases Already Announced
- Prince Edward Island: $17.30 → $17.60 on April 1, 2027
Most other jurisdictions index their minimum wage to inflation and announce the next rate one to six months before it takes effect. Ontario, for example, must publish its October rate by April 1. We add each new rate here as soon as it is announced.
Special Rates Worth Knowing
- Ontario students under 18 working 28 hours a week or less during the school year: $16.90 from October 1, 2026.
- Ontario homeworkers (paid to do work in their own home): $19.70 from October 1, 2026.
- Federal rate vs provincial rate: if you work for a federally regulated employer and your province’s rate is higher, you get the higher rate.
What It Means for Take-Home Pay
At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, a $0.35 raise is about $728 a year before tax. To see what a minimum-wage job actually leaves in your account after tax, CPP and EI in your province, use our salary calculator. For budgeting against rent and groceries, compare cities with the cost of living calculator.
If You Are Paid Less Than the Minimum
Minimum wage applies automatically — you do not need to ask for it, and it applies to work permit holders and international students exactly as it does to citizens. If your employer has not moved you to the new rate on the effective date, raise it in writing first, then contact your province’s employment standards office. Unpaid trial shifts and “training” hours are a common way the minimum is avoided; see whether unpaid training is legal in your province.
Related Guides
Sources
- Government of Canada — Current and forthcoming minimum wage rates
- Government of Nunavut — Minimum wage increases September 1 to $20.17
- Government of the Northwest Territories — Minimum wage to $17.20 on September 1, 2026
- Government of Ontario — Minimum wage
- Littler — Minimum wage increases effective October 1, 2026
