Statutory minimum wage in Canada (2026)
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
In short: Canada has no single national minimum wage: each province and territory sets its own. A federal minimum wage of $18.15 per hour applies to employees of federally regulated employers, and the higher provincial or territorial rate applies where it is higher.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| National statutory minimum wageEmployees; Federally regulated employers | Yes [1] |
| Current adult minimum wage (gross)Employees; Federally regulated employers | 18.15 CAD per hour [2] |
| Age bands, reduced rates and exclusionsEmployees; Federally regulated employers | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Next scheduled changeEmployees; Federally regulated employers | 1 April 2027 [3] |
| Amount from next change (gross)Employees; Federally regulated employers | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- Gross hourly rate from 1 April 2026. It covers employees of federally regulated employers (for example banking, telecommunications and interprovincial transport), not employees generally. If the rate of the province where the employee usually works is higher, that rate applies (Canada Labour Code, s. 178(2)).
- Section 178 of the Canada Labour Code as read does not set age-based rates, but subsections (3) to (5) were not read.
- The federal rate is adjusted each 1 April by the previous calendar year's consumer price index change, rounded up to the nearest $0.05. The 2027 amount was not published as of 9 October 2026.
Sources
- Department of Justice Canada: Canada Labour Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. L-2), ss. 178 and 178.1 (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
- Government of Canada: Pay and minimum wage, deductions, and wage recovery - Canada.ca (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Government of Canada raises the federal minimum wage (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
Canada: rules by state or province
| Province or territory | National statutory minimum wage | Current adult minimum wage (gross) | Age bands, reduced rates and exclusions | Next scheduled change | Amount from next change (gross) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Yes | $15.00 per hour | Under-18 students: $13 (up to 28 h/week in term) | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| British Columbia | Yes | $18.25 per hour | No age rate; special rates for platform workers etc. | 1 June 2027 | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Manitoba | Yes | $16.40 per hour | No age-based rate: same for all employees | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| New Brunswick | Yes | $15.90 per hour | No age-based rate; special rates for some work | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Yes | $16.35 per hour | No age-based rate listed | 1 April 2027 | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Northwest Territories | Yes | $17.20 per hour | One rate for all; no age-based rate | 1 September 2027 | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Nova Scotia | Yes | $17.00 per hour | The government page mentions no youth or age-based rates. | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Nunavut | Yes | ⚠ Not yet verified | No age restriction | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Ontario | Yes | $17.95 per hour | Students under 18: $16.90; homeworkers $19.70 | 1 October 2027 | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Prince Edward Island | Yes | $17.30 per hour | One rate for all employees | 1 April 2027 | $17.60 per hour |
| Quebec | Yes | $16.60 per hour | No age-based rate; pickers paid per kg | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Saskatchewan | Yes | $15.70 per hour | No age-based rate | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Yukon | Yes | $18.51 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.