Minimum wage increases on October 1, 2026
On the general minimum wage rose in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Manitoba. Ontario went from $17.60 to $17.95. The new rate applies to hours worked on or after that date. Here is every change, and what it adds to a full-time year.
What changes on October 1
| Province | Until Sept 30 | From Oct 1 | Increase | Full-time year, before tax | A year's raise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $17.60 | $17.95 | +$0.35 | $37,336 | +$728 |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.00 | $17.30 | +$0.30 | $35,984 | +$624 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.75 | $17.00 | +$0.25 | $35,360 | +$520 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.40 | +$0.40 | $34,112 | +$832 |
Full-time year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks. Many minimum-wage jobs are part time or seasonal, so the real annual figure is usually lower. Work out your own with the hourly to salary calculator, which checks any wage against the minimum in your province.
What it is worth after tax
The raise is not all yours. Income tax, CPP and EI come off the top. This is the take-home for a single person with no other income or credits beyond the basic amounts.
| Province | Before tax | After tax | Take-home increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $37,336 | $30,911 | +$501 |
| Prince Edward Island | $35,984 | $29,470 | +$417 |
| Nova Scotia | $35,360 | $28,706 | +$339 |
| Manitoba | $34,112 | $28,082 | +$578 |
See the full breakdown for your own pay in the take-home pay calculator.
Every province and territory after October 1
The general adult rate in force from October 1, 2026, highest first.
| Jurisdiction | Minimum wage | Changed on Oct 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | $20.17 | no |
| Yukon | $18.51 | no |
| British Columbia | $18.25 | no |
| Ontario | $17.95 | yes, +$0.35 |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.30 | yes, +$0.30 |
| Northwest Territories | $17.20 | no |
| Nova Scotia | $17.00 | yes, +$0.25 |
| Quebec | $16.60 | no |
| Manitoba | $16.40 | yes, +$0.40 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.35 | no |
| New Brunswick | $15.90 | no |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | no |
| Alberta | $15.00 | no |
The full table with effective dates, annual pay and every announced future increase is on the minimum wage by province data page.
Three things worth knowing
- The date, not the payday, decides the rate. Hours worked on September 30 are paid at the old rate even if the cheque arrives in October. A pay period that straddles the change has both rates on it.
- The federal rate is separate. If you work for a bank, airline, railway, telecom or another federally regulated employer, your floor is the federal minimum wage, which changes on April 1, unless your province's rate is higher. Then the provincial rate applies.
- It is a floor, not a ceiling or a guideline. No contract can pay below it. Provincial employment standards offices take complaints and can order back pay.
Related
Hourly to salary converts any wage to a yearly figure and flags a rate below the legal minimum. Vacation and holiday pay works out what your province owes on top. What changed in 2026 lists every tax and benefit figure for the year.
Frequently asked questions
- Which provinces raise the minimum wage on October 1, 2026?
- 4: Ontario from $17.60 to $17.95; Prince Edward Island from $17.00 to $17.30; Nova Scotia from $16.75 to $17.00; Manitoba from $16.00 to $16.40.
- What is the Ontario minimum wage from October 1, 2026?
- $17.95 an hour, up $0.35 from $17.60. At 40 hours a week for a full year that is $37,336 before tax, $728 more than before the increase.
- Do I get the new rate for hours I worked in September?
- No. The new rate applies to hours worked on or after October 1. Hours worked before that date are paid at the old rate, even if the pay period straddles the change and the money arrives in October.
- What if my employer keeps paying the old rate?
- The minimum wage is a legal floor, not a guideline, and an employment contract cannot go below it. Each province has an employment standards office that takes complaints and can order back pay. Keep your pay stubs and a record of your hours.
- Does this apply to students and servers?
- These are the general adult rates. Some provinces keep a separate lower rate for students under 18, for liquor servers, or for homeworkers. Check your province's employment standards page for the rate that applies to your job.
- Which province has the highest minimum wage after October 1?
- Nunavut at $20.17, and the lowest is Alberta at $15.00. The gap is $5.17 an hour, or $10,754 over a full-time year.
- Why do provinces change the rate on October 1?
- Several tie the minimum wage to inflation by formula and set the adjustment date in legislation. Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan use October 1; British Columbia, Quebec and most of the Atlantic provinces move in the spring. The federal rate for banks, airlines, rail and telecoms changes on April 1.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these primary sources. Data last verified .
- CRA – Tax rates on withdrawals (RRSP/RRIF)
- Revenu Québec – Single Payments (source deductions)
- CRA – Transfer of a retiring allowance
- CRA – Special payments chart
- CRA – Calculate income tax deductions (Bonus or irregular payments / Lump-sum payments tabs)
- CRA – Federal non-refundable tax credits for newcomers and emigrants
- CRA – Before you contribute to a TFSA
- Vacation - Province of British Columbia
- Vacation pay | Alberta.ca
- Calculating and Paying Vacation Pay | Annual Vacation and Vacation Pay | Government of Saskatchewan
- Vacations and Vacation Pay - Employment Standards - Manitoba
- Your guide to the Employment Standards Act: Vacation (ontario.ca)
- Act respecting labour standards, CQLR c. N-1.1, ss. 67-69, 74 (LegisQuebec); CNESST 'Annual vacation'
- Employment Standards Act, S.N.B. c. E-7.2, ss. 24-25 (laws.gnb.ca); 'Paid public holidays, vacation time and pay' (gnb.ca)
- Vacation Time and Vacation Pay (novascotia.ca Labour Standards); Labour Standards Code R.S.N.S. 1989 c.246 s.32-34
- Employment Standards Act, Chapter 66 (Bill 76), 2024 - Legislative Assembly of PEI chapter PDF
- Labour Standards Act, R.S.N.L. 1990 c. L-2, ss. 8-9 (House of Assembly consolidated statutes); 'Your Rights at Work' booklet (gov.nl.ca)
- Learn about annual vacation pay and vacation time | Yukon.ca
- Employment Standards Act, SNWT 2007, c.13 (office consolidation), s.25(1)
- Labour and Employment Standards in Nunavut | Government of Nunavut
- Annual vacations and general holidays for employees working for federally regulated employers - Canada.ca
- Government of Canada – Current and forthcoming general minimum wage rates in Canada (modified 2026-09-17)
- CRA T4127 Payroll Deductions Formulas, 123rd Edition, effective July 1, 2026 (Rev. 26/06)
- CRA – CPP contribution rates, maximums and exemptions
- CRA – Second additional CPP (CPP2) contribution rates and maximums
- ESDC – EI maternity and parental benefits: how much you could receive
- CRA – EI premium rates and maximums
- CRA – Indexation adjustment for personal income tax and benefit amounts
- Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.), s. 150(1)(d) and s. 156.1(4): filing deadlines and balance-due day
- Canada Employment Insurance Commission – Canada Employment Insurance Commission confirms 2027 Employment Insurance premium rate (September 14, 2026)
Rates from the federal government's minimum wage table, verified . Annual and after-tax figures are our own calculation.