Changes to provincial minimum wages

At a glance

• Several Provinces have announced changes to minimum wage rates for 2024.
• In some Provinces the changes came into effect on 1 April, in others implementation is set for 1 October.
• In British Columbia changes are also being made to the process for future annual minimum wage adjustments. 

Changes from 1 April and 1 October 2024

• The Prince Edward Island Government announced that Prince Edward Island’s minimum wage increased to  CAD15.40 per hour as of 1 April 2024.
• The New Brunswick Government announced that New Brunswick’s minimum wage increased to CAD15.30 per hour and overtime rates increased to CAD22.95 per hour as of 1 April 2024.
• The Nova Scotia Government announced that Nova Scotia’s minimum wage increased to CAD15.20 per hour as of 1 April 2024.
• The Newfoundland and Labrador Government announced that Newfoundland and Labrador’s minimum wage increased to CAD15.60 per hour and overtime rates increased to CAD23.40 per hour as of 1 April  2024.
• The Government of Ontario announced that Ontario’s minimum wage will be increased to CAD17.20 per hour as of 1 October 2024. The minimum wage is currently CAD16.55 per hour.
• The Manitoba Government announced that Manitoba’s minimum wage will be increased to CAD15.80 per hour as of 1 October 2024. The minimum wage is currently CAD15.30 per hour. 

British Columbia changes from 1 June 2024

The Government of British Columbia announced that the general minimum wage will be increasing from CAD16.75 to CAD17.40 per hour effective 1 June 2024. 

This represents a 3.9% increase, consistent with British Columbia’s average rate of inflation in 2023. 

Moreover, British Columbia’s Bill 2, the Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2024, received Royal Assent on 14 March 2024 and came into force effective 1 June 2024.

Bill 2 amends the ESA to automatically provide for such future annual adjustments to all minimum wage rates on 1 June each year. 

An adjustment to the minimum wage rate will be made only when, based on the percentage change in the All-Items Consumer Price Index for British Columbia, there should be an increase to the minimum wage. The Ministry of Labour will publish the adjusted minimum wage rates each year on a publicly accessible website.