Minimum wages in Canada have risen across all provinces and territories, with every region now at $15 or higher. These increases aim to keep up with inflation and the cost of living.This article provides a province-by-province 2025 minimum wages, key trends, and what’s ahead. We’ll also look at how these changes impact businesses and workers.
Minimum wage in Canada varies by province and has increased in recent years. By 2025, every province will have a minimum wage of at least $15 per hour, with many adjusting rates yearly based on inflation. Most provinces fall between $15 and $17 per hour, with British Columbia at $17.40 and Nunavut at $19.00 due to higher living costs. The federal minimum wage, which applies to jobs in banking, postal services, and transportation, was $17.30 in April 2024 and will increase to $17.75 in April 2025. Workers always receive the higher wage if their province’s rate is above the federal minimum.
Canada Minimum Wage by Province in 2025
We will look at general adult minimum wage in each province (and territory) as of 2025, along with recent changes. All figures are in Canadian dollars per hour. (Some provinces allow lower wages for certain worker categories, like students or tipped employees; where relevant, these are noted.)
Alberta
Current Rate: The minimum wage in Alberta is $15.00 per hour, unchanged since October 1, 2018. There is a lower rate of $13.00 per hour for students under 18 working 28 hours per week or less.
Recent Trends: Alberta was the first province in Canada to reach $15 per hour, increasing the wage yearly from 2015 to 2018. At that time, it was the highest in the country. However, since Alberta does not adjust its wage for inflation, its value has gone down over time. In 2025, Alberta now has one of the lowest minimum wages in Canada.
British Columbia
Current Rate: Alberta’s minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, unchanged since October 1, 2018. It was the first province to reach this amount, increasing the rate each year from 2015 to 2018. At that time, it was the highest in Canada. There is also a lower rate of $13.00 per hour for students under 18 who work 28 hours per week or less.
Recent Trends: Since 2018, other provinces have continued raising their minimum wages, but Alberta’s has stayed the same. This means that in 2025, Alberta now has one of the lowest minimum wages in Canada. Because the wage has not been adjusted for inflation, its real value has gone down over the years, making it harder for workers to keep up with rising costs.
Saskatchewan
Current Rate: Saskatchewan’s minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, effective October 1, 2024.
Recent Trends: Saskatchewan had one of the lowest minimum wages in Canada but increased it in steps from $11.81 in 2022 to $15.00 in 2024. Starting in 2025, Saskatchewan will adjust its minimum wage yearly based on inflation and average wages. These raises will happen every October, with final approval from the Cabinet.
Manitoba
Current Rate: Manitoba’s minimum wage is $15.80 per hour, effective October 1, 2024. It was previously $15.30 earlier in 2024. The province adjusts its minimum wage every October 1 based on inflation.
Recent Trends: Due to high inflation, Manitoba made extra increases in 2022 and 2023 to raise wages faster. It went from $11.95 in 2021 to $13.50 in 2022, then to $14.15 in April 2023, and $15.30 by October 2023. These rapid increases helped push the minimum wage above $15. Moving forward, Manitoba will continue adjusting wages each year based on inflation unless special changes are made.
Ontario
Current Rate: Ontario’s minimum wage is $17.20 per hour, effective October 1, 2024. It was $16.55 before the increase. The province adjusts the rate annually based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Recent Trends: Ontario’s minimum wage has grown steadily over the years. It was $11.60 in 2017, jumped to $14.00 in 2018, and after a brief freeze in 2019, annual increases resumed. Ontario passed $15.00 in January 2022 and continued raising wages with inflation adjustments. The latest increase in 2024 boosted wages by 3.9%, benefiting about one million workers.
Quebec Minimum Wage
Current Rate: Quebec’s minimum wage is $15.75 per hour, effective May 1, 2024. The province raises its minimum wage every May 1, and it will increase to $16.10 in May 2025. There is also a lower wage for tipped workers (those who receive gratuities), currently set at $12.60 per hour. This rate also increases annually.
Recent Trends: Quebec’s minimum wage has been going up steadily, rising by $0.40 to $0.50 each year. It was $12.00 in 2018, reached $13.50 in 2020, and crossed $15.00 in 2023. The government aims to balance wage increases with business concerns. In 2025, Quebec’s minimum wage is expected to be one of the highest in Canada. The province prefers gradual increases instead of large jumps to help workers keep up with the cost of living.
New Brunswick
Current Rate: New Brunswick’s minimum wage is $15.30 per hour, effective April 1, 2024. It will increase to $15.65 on April 1, 2025, based on inflation.
Recent Trends: New Brunswick was slow to reach $15 per hour. In 2022, it had the lowest wage in Atlantic Canada. To catch up, the province made two big increases that year, jumping from $12.75 in April to $13.75 in October. Further raises brought the wage to $14.75 in 2023 and $15.30 in 2024. With these increases, New Brunswick’s wage is now in line with other provinces. Going forward, the province will adjust the minimum wage every April 1 based on inflation, making future increases more predictable.
Nova Scotia
Current Rate: Nova Scotia’s minimum wage is $15.20 per hour, effective April 1, 2024. It will increase to $15.70 in April 2025 and then to $16.50 in October 2025. The province is making these large increases to help workers with rising costs. After October 2025, Nova Scotia will return to regular annual increases every April, adjusting for inflation plus an extra 1% per year. Nova Scotia no longer has a lower wage for inexperienced workers—this was removed in 2020 to ensure all workers earn the same.
Recent Trends: Nova Scotia has had five wage increases in two years, jumping from $12.55 in 2021 to $15.00 by 2023. This was the fastest series of increases in a decade. Despite these raises, in 2024, Nova Scotia still had the lowest minimum wage in Atlantic Canada. The planned increase to $16.50 in late 2025 aims to improve workers’ wages and keep up with the cost of living.
Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Current Rate: Prince Edward Island’s minimum wage is $16.00 per hour, effective October 1, 2024. This is the highest minimum wage in Atlantic Canada. PEI often raises its wage twice a year. In 2024, it went from $15.00 to $15.40 in April, then to $16.00 in October. For 2025, no additional increases have been confirmed yet, as the province reviews economic conditions before making changes.
Recent Trends: PEI’s minimum wage has increased quickly in recent years. It was $13.00 in 2020, then steadily rose to $15.00 by 2023. The $1.00 increase in 2024 continued this trend. At $16.00 per hour, PEI now has one of the highest minimum wages in Canada, just behind larger provinces like Ontario. This reflects the province’s commitment to improving wages and helping workers keep up with rising costs.
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
Current Rate: Newfoundland and Labrador’s minimum wage is $15.60 per hour, effective April 1, 2024. It will increase to $16.00 on April 1, 2025. Starting in 2025, NL will adjust its minimum wage every April 1 based on national inflation (CPI) to keep up with the cost of living.
Recent Trends: NL reached $15.00 per hour in late 2023, catching up with the other Atlantic provinces. Earlier increases were small, but recent raises have been larger to push the wage past $15. The $15.60 wage in 2024 was briefly the highest in Atlantic Canada until PEI raised its wage to $16.00 in October 2024. With inflation-based increases now in place, NL’s minimum wage will continue to rise gradually each year to help workers keep up with costs.
Yukon
Current Rate: Yukon’s minimum wage is $17.59 per hour, effective April 1, 2024. It will increase to $17.94 on April 1, 2025. The territory adjusts its wage every April 1 based on inflation in Whitehorse, ensuring wages keep pace with the cost of living.
Recent Trends: Yukon has made several wage adjustments beyond inflation in past years. In 2021, workers saw an extra $1.35 increase in August, in addition to the usual yearly raise. These extra boosts, along with regular CPI-based increases, have helped keep wages above the $15 mark. Yukon’s minimum wage is one of the highest in Canada, reflecting the higher cost of living in northern communities. The territory’s policy ensures workers’ paychecks keep up with inflation.
Northwest Territories (NWT)
Current Rate: The minimum wage in the Northwest Territories is $16.70 per hour, effective September 1, 2024. The territory adjusts its wage every September 1, using a formula based on inflation in Yellowknife and average wages in NWT.
Recent Trends: NWT had a smaller increase in 2023, followed by a bigger jump in 2024. The wage was $15.20 before 2023, then $16.05, and now $16.70. The unique CPI-and-wage formula ensures the minimum wage keeps up with both living costs and general wage growth. NWT’s rate is higher than the national average but still below Yukon and Nunavut. With annual reviews, the minimum wage is expected to keep rising steadily.
Nunavut
Current Rate: Nunavut has the highest minimum wage in Canada at $19.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2024. It was raised from $16.00 to $19.00 to help workers manage the high cost of living. Unlike other regions, Nunavut does not have a fixed annual adjustment date. Instead, wage increases are decided by the territorial government when needed.
Recent Trends: Nunavut has one of the highest living costs in Canada, especially for food, housing, and essentials in remote communities. To help workers, the government has kept its minimum wage much higher than other provinces and territories. Before the $19.00 increase, Nunavut’s wage was already high at $16.00. The $3.00 jump in 2024 made the gap even bigger. Future wage changes aren’t scheduled yearly, but Nunavut is expected to keep its minimum wage the highest in Canada to match its higher cost of living.
Impact of Minimum Wage Changes on Businesses and Cost of Living
Small Businesses: Higher wages increase payroll costs, leading many small businesses to raise prices, cut hours, or slow hiring. About 60% raised wages for other staff, and 59% increased prices. Some hired fewer young workers, but higher wages can improve morale and reduce turnover.
Inflation: Minimum wage hikes may slightly raise prices but have little impact on overall inflation. The Bank of Canada estimated a 0.1% inflation increase from 2018’s wage hikes, showing minimal effect on unemployment.
Cost of Living: Higher wages help low-income workers afford necessities and reduce poverty but don’t fully address living costs. Affordable housing, childcare, and tax credits are also needed for long-term relief.
Historical Trends and Comparisons
Minimum wages in Canada have increased a lot over the past decade. In the early 2010s, most provinces had minimum wages around $10–$11. By the mid-2020s, every province and territory had reached at least $15, a goal that once seemed ambitious. Alberta was ahead of the curve, setting its wage at $15 in 2018, and other provinces followed.
From 2022 to 2024, inflation pushed many governments to raise wages more frequently. Many provinces now adjust wages automatically based on inflation. Ontario restarted this in 2020, while British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, and several others use CPI-based increases. Nova Scotia even adds an extra 1% above inflation each year. This change helps keep wages in line with living costs and makes the process less political.
Despite these increases, minimum wages today don’t have much more buying power than in the 1970s. In 1976, the inflation-adjusted minimum wage peaked at about $11 per hour (in 2014 dollars). By 2014, it was around $10.39. Although today’s wages are much higher in dollar terms ($15–$17+), their real value is not far above that 1970s peak. Wages dipped in the 1980s and 1990s but have risen strongly since the late 2010s.
In 2025, Nunavut has the highest minimum wage at $19, while BC follows at $17.85. Alberta and Saskatchewan are the lowest at $15. A full-time minimum wage worker makes about $31,200 a year in the lowest-wage provinces and up to $39,500 in Nunavut. While there are still differences between regions, the wage gap has shrunk. A decade ago, some provinces had wages as low as $10. Now, with all at $15 or more, Canada’s wage is more even nationwide, and most areas continue to raise wages annually.