Canada's federal minimum wage is $18.15 an hour from 1 April 2026, as of October 2026, but it only covers federally regulated private-sector workers such as banking, telecoms and interprovincial transport. Most Canadians are paid under their province or territory's minimum wage, which ranges from $15.00 in Alberta to $20.17 in Nunavut.
This is the bit that confuses employers new to Canada. There isn't one national rate that every business pays. Each province and territory sets its own, the federal rate sits on top for federally regulated sectors, and the federally regulated employer pays whichever is higher.
Minimum wage by province and territory
These are the rates in the federal government's own table, updated on 24 October 2026, for experienced adult workers:
| Jurisdiction | Rate per hour | Effective from |
|---|---|---|
| Federal (federally regulated sectors) | $18.15 | 1 April 2026 |
| Nunavut | $20.17 | 1 September 2026 |
| Yukon | $18.51 | 1 April 2026 |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | 1 June 2026 |
| Ontario | $17.95 | 1 October 2026 |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.30 (rising to $17.60 on 1 April 2027) | 1 October 2026 |
| Northwest Territories | $17.20 | 1 September 2026 |
| Nova Scotia | $17.00 | 1 October 2026 |
| Quebec | $16.60 | 1 May 2026 |
| Manitoba | $16.40 | 1 October 2026 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | 1 April 2026 |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | 1 April 2026 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.70 | 1 October 2026 |
| Alberta | $15.00 | 26 June 2019 |
Look at the dates and you'll see why this matters. Five provinces changed their rate on 1 October 2026 alone, and the dates spread across April, May, June, September and October. If you employ people in more than one province, you'll be updating payroll several times a year.
Which rate applies to your employees
- Work out whether your business is federally regulated. The federal jurisdiction covers sectors under federal authority by the Constitution, such as international and interprovincial transport, telecommunications and banking.
- If it isn't, pay at least the minimum wage of the province or territory where the employee usually works.
- If it's federally regulated, compare the federal $18.15 with the provincial rate where the employee usually works and pay the higher one.
- Check for special rates for young workers or specific jobs in that province before relying on the general rate.
The federal government is explicit on step three. Its March 2026 announcement says that if the provincial or territorial minimum wage is higher than the federal rate, federally regulated employers must pay the higher of the two. So a federally regulated employer in Nunavut pays $20.17, not $18.15, while one in Alberta pays $18.15, not $15.00.
How the federal rate goes up
The federal minimum wage is adjusted every year on 1 April, based on Canada's annual average Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year, rounded up to the nearest five cents. The government says the 2026 increase reflects a rise in that index during 2025, and that the federal rate has gone up substantially since the standalone federal minimum wage was introduced in 2021.
A worked example
Say you run a small online business registered in Ontario and you hire three remote employees: one in Ontario, one in Quebec and one in Alberta. Your business isn't federally regulated. Using the federal table, the Ontario employee is owed at least $17.95 an hour from 1 October 2026, the Quebec employee at least $16.60 from 1 May 2026, and the Alberta employee at least $15.00. The rule is where the employee usually works, not where you're registered. If your business were federally regulated instead, all three would be owed at least $18.15, because it's higher than each of those provincial rates.
Young workers and special rates
The federal table notes that in most jurisdictions these rates also apply to young workers, but some provinces have separate rules. Ontario, for instance, has a student rate for under-18s working limited hours in the school term, and Alberta has a job creation student wage. Always check the province's own employment standards page for exceptions before paying anyone less than the general rate. The federal government publishes a separate table for young workers and specific occupations alongside the general one, which is a quick place to start.
Tips for employers hiring across Canada
| If you... | Do this |
|---|---|
| Hire remote staff in several provinces | Set each person's rate by the province where they usually work, not where your office is |
| Are federally regulated | Pay the higher of $18.15 and the local rate |
| Pay by salary or commission | Check it works out at least the minimum for the hours worked in each pay period |
| Have staff in Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, PEI or Saskatchewan | Update rates for 1 October 2026 |
For payroll registration, my guide to the CRA My Business Account walks through the set-up, and my guide to AdSense payments in Canada covers that income if you also earn from YouTube.
My verdict
There's no such thing as the Canadian minimum wage for most businesses. There are 13 provincial and territorial rates and one federal rate, all on different calendars. Keep the federal table bookmarked, map every employee to the province they usually work in, and set two payroll reminders a year: 1 April and 1 October cover most of the changes.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Canada in 2026?
The federal minimum wage is $18.15 an hour from 1 April 2026, but it applies only to federally regulated private-sector employers. Other workers get their province or territory's rate.
Which province or territory has the highest minimum wage in Canada?
In the federal table updated 24 October 2026, Nunavut has the highest rate at $20.17 an hour, followed by Yukon at $18.51.
Which province has the lowest minimum wage in Canada?
Alberta, at $15.00 an hour, a rate in place since 26 June 2019.
Who gets the federal minimum wage in Canada?
Employees in federally regulated private sectors, such as banking, telecommunications and interprovincial transport.
How often does the federal minimum wage change?
Every year on 1 April, based on the previous year's annual average Consumer Price Index, rounded up to the nearest five cents.
Does the employer's province or the employee's province set the rate?
The province or territory where the employee usually works sets the minimum wage, not the province where the business is registered.
Do federally regulated employers pay the provincial rate if it's higher?
Yes. If the provincial or territorial minimum wage is higher than the federal rate, federally regulated employers must pay the higher of the two.
