Canada Minimum Wages by Province and Territory

In a world where the cost of living is ever on the rise, and financial stability remains a priority for many, understanding the minimum wage becomes crucial.

Picture this: the daily grind of work, striving to make ends meet, and hoping for a fair wage that reflects the value of your efforts. If you've ever wondered about the baseline earnings that employers are legally obligated to pay their employees, then you're about to embark on a journey to unravel the intricacies of Canada's minimum wage List.

What is Canada Minimum Wage?

The term "Canada Minimum Wage" refers to the legally mandated minimum hourly wage that employers must pay to most workers in Canada. It represents the lowest amount of compensation that employers are required to provide to their employees for the work performed.

The Canada Minimum pay rate varies across the provinces and territories in Canada, as each jurisdiction has its own legislation determining the specific minimum wage rate. The purpose of setting a minimum wage is to establish a baseline level of income to protect workers and ensure fair compensation for their labor.

What is the Federal Minimum Wage?

The federal minimum wage in Canada increased to $16.65 (₹1,019.15) per hour as of April 1, 2023. Prior to this date, workers were subject to the minimum wage set by their respective province or territory. The new federal minimum wage, which is determined by the government, is adjusted to account for inflation.

Federal minimum wages apply to workers in federally regulated industries, such as

• Federal Crown corporations like Canada Post
• Certain Indigenous government activities on First Nations reserves
• Air transportation
• Banking
• Select road transportation services.

Canada Minimum Wage List 2023 by Province or Territory

In Canada, minimum wage rates vary by province or territory, reflecting the regional cost of living and economic conditions. Here is a brief overview of the minimum wage rates across different provinces and territories as of 2023.

*CPI - Some Provinces automatically adjust their minimum wages based on a provincial Consumer Price Index, which tracks the increases in consumer prices (i.e., inflation). Likewise, the Northwest Territories’ minimum wage is reviewed every two years by a special Minimum Wage Committee to determine if it should be increased.

Below is a chart illustrating Canada's minimum wage per province/territory

1. Canada Minimum Wage in Alberta

• The Minimum wage in Alberta: $15.00 per hour.
• The minimum wage in Canada for international students under 18 is $13.00 per hour.
• If a student works more than 28 hours in a week, they must be paid the standard wage of $15.00 per hour for those extra hours, unless school is not in session.
• The objective of lower student wages is to create more job opportunities for students.
• Exclusion of tips, gratuities, and expenses: Minimum wage does not include these additional earnings, especially relevant in the service industry.
• The weekly minimum wage for certain professionals: Salespersons, land agents, and specific professionals have a weekly minimum wage of $598.
• Minimum wage per month for domestic employees: If residing with the employer, they earn a minimum of $2,848 per month.
• Minimum wage per month for domestic employees not residing with the employer: They are entitled to $15.00 per hour.

Read More About: Top 15 Most In-Demand Jobs in Alberta PNP

2. Canada Minimum Wage in Saskatchewan

• The current minimum wage in Saskatchewan is $13.00 per hour.
• The minimum wage will increase to $14.00 on October 1, 2023, and $15.00 on October 1, 2024.
• Certain categories of workers are exempted from the minimum wage regulations.
  • Farming and ranching employees.
  • Market garden laborers
  • Certain private homecare employees.
  • Professional athletes.
  • Specific employees of non-profit organizations.
• According to regulations, employees must receive at least 3 hours worth of pay per shift, even if they don't work that long, with the exception of being called in to work overtime hours.

Read More About: Top 15 Most in Demand Jobs in Saskatchewan PNP

3. Canada Minimum Wage in Ontario

• The current minimum wage in Ontario is $15.50 per hour.
• The minimum wage in Canada for international students is $14.60 per hour. The rate applies to Students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours or less each week during school and school breaks earn a reduced rate.
• The minimum wage for domestic workers is $17.05 per hour. Examples of domestic/homeworker roles include:
  • Sewing for clothing manufacturers
  • Answering phones for call centers
  • Other work as a house help.

• The minimum wage guidelines apply even to those who work on commission. Their paychecks must meet the appropriate hourly minimum wage for their sector.
• Employees who usually work shifts of 3 or more hours but end up working less than 3 hours are also entitled to 3 hours of pay.

4. Canada Minimum Wage in British Columbia

• The Canadian minimum wage per hour in British Columbia is $15.65 as of June 1, 2022.
• The hourly wage for liquor servers has been increased to $14.60 from $13.95
• The daily wage of live-in camp workers increased to $125.06 per day
• The minimum daily wage for live-in home support workers is $116.68 per day
• The Resident caretakers get a minimum wage based on the number of units in the building. For Instance 9 to 60 apartments, the caretaker is eligible for $937.82 per month, plus $37.58 for each unit.
• For an apartment that has more than 60 units, the caretaker is entitled to $3,194.43 per month.

Read More About: Top 15 Most In-Demand Jobs in British Columbia PNP

5. Canada Minimum Wage in Manitoba

• The Canada minimum wage per hour in Manitoba is $14.15.
• Certain groups are exempt from the hourly minimum wage requirements:
  • Domestic workers who work less than 12 hours each week.
  • Individuals involved in an approved federal or provincial training program.
  • Election officials and enumerators.
• Residential construction workers are entitled to receive the provincial minimum wage.
• Heavy construction workers and employees in the industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) sectors have specific rates based on their specialty.
• Even employees who are paid with incentives or work on commission must have an income that averages out to the minimum wage.
• If an employee's commission does not meet the minimum wage requirement, the employer is obligated to top up their pay.

Read More About: Top 15 Most in Demand Jobs in Manitoba PNP

6. Canada Minimum Wage in New Brunswick

• The minimum wage in New Brunswick is $14.75 per hour.
• The province enforces a minimum pay rate of $22.13 per hour for overtime work.
• Employers must pay their employees for at least 3 hours of work on each pay cheque if the employee has been officially asked to report to work.
• Construction and trades workers participating in government construction work, as well as summer camp staff, have special rates that may differ from the general minimum wage.

Read More About: Top 15 Most In Demand Jobs in New Brunswick

7. Canada Minimum Wage in Newfoundland & Labrador

• The minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador was raised to $14.50 per hour on April 1, 2023.
• Employers in Newfoundland and Labrador must pay available and willing employees a minimum of 3 hours' worth of wages on each paycheque.

Read More About: Top 15 Most in Demand Jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador PNP

8. Canada Minimum Wage in Northwest Territories

• The Minimum pay rate in the Northwest Territories is $15.20 per hour.
• The NWT has regulations concerning "recall pay." When an employee is called in to work for a shift that was not scheduled in advance, the employer must pay for a minimum of 4 hours of work at the regular rate.
• Even if the employee is able to leave early and does not complete the full 4 hours, they still receive pay for the minimum required hours.
• Employees who are "on call" typically do not qualify for recall pay, although there may be exceptions.

9. Canada Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia

• The minimum wage in Nova Scotia is currently $14.50 per hour.
• There are scheduled increases in the minimum wage on the following dates:
  • October 1, 2023: $14.65
  • April 1, 2024: $15.00
• Employees called into work outside of their usual schedule must be paid a minimum of 3 hours' wages, even if they don't work for the full 3 hours.
• Piecework employees must be paid in a way equal to or higher than the province's minimum hourly pay since they are compensated based on the quantity produced rather than on an hourly basis.
• Regulations specify deductions for room and board, with weekly amounts set as:
  • $68.20 for board and lodging
  • $55.55 for board only
  • $15.45 for lodging only
  • $3.65 for a single meal.
• Employers may charge employees for uniforms, but such deductions are not allowed if they result in pay falling below the minimum wage for hours worked.

10. Canada Minimum Wage in Nunavut

• The minimum wage in Nunavut is currently set at $16.00 per hour.
• Recall pay regulations state that employees must receive 4 hours' wages if they are called into work outside of their regular schedule, regardless of whether they work for the full 4 hours or not.
• Trappers and individuals working in commercial fisheries are exempt from the regulations related to minimum wage.

11. Canada Minimum Wage in Prince Edward Island

• The Canadian minimum wage in Prince Edward Island (PEI) is $14.50 per hour.
• Unlike some other provinces, PEI does not specify different rates for different types of workers.
• Employers in PEI have regulations regarding deductions for room and board:
  • Weekly deductions can be a maximum of $61.60 for board and lodging.
  • Maximum deductions for board only are $49.50 per week.
  • Maximum deductions for lodging only are $27.50 per week.
  • A maximum deduction of $4.25 can be made for a single meal.

Read More About: Top 15 Most in Demand Jobs in PEI PNP

12. Canada Minimum Wage in Quebec

• The Minimum pay rate in Quebec was increased to $14.25 per hour on May 1, 2022.
• Employees who receive tips, such as serving staff and hairdressers, have a separate minimum wage rate of $11.40 per hour.
• Berry pickers in Quebec have specific wage rates:
  • $4.23 per kilogram of raspberries.
  • $1.13 per kilogram of strawberries.

13. Canada Minimum Wage in Yukon

• On April 1, 2023, the minimum wage in Yukon was raised to $16.77 per hour.
• Yukon has a Fair Wage Schedule that outlines minimum wage requirements for different government workers, tradespeople, and other occupations.
• Tradespeople in Yukon are paid based on their category:
  • Category A Class: $38.90 per hour
  • Category B Class: $34.87 per hour
  • Category C Class: $30.93 per hour
  • Category D Class: $28.07 per hour

Stay Informed on the Canada Minimum Wage List with GetGIS

In conclusion, the increase in the federal minimum wage to $16.65 per hour in 2023 brings significant changes to workers' income across various industries in Canada. It is crucial for both employers and employees to stay informed about these updates and understand their implications.

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