Five Canadian provinces — B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia — have recently increased their minimum wage. According to the province, this makes Alberta the lowest rate in the country. Action this year British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have all taken action with scheduled or implemented increases. Specifically, they reacted to the increasing expense of living, shown in Canada’s consumer price index.
British Columbia became the first province to increase its minimum wage this year, doing so earlier this spring. Soon after that, then, so too did Quebec and New Brunswick. Newfoundland and Labrador followed suit, raising its minimum wage earlier this year. These changes come as part of a broader trend across Canada, with many provinces adjusting their wage rates to reflect inflationary pressures.
With a minimum wage of $17.60 per hour, Ontario is presently home to the highest provincial minimum wage in the country. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have raised their minimum wage to $16.50/hour. Manitoba’s minimum wage will reach $16 per hour by 2024. In stark contrast, Saskatchewan has set their minimum wage to $15.35 per hour.
Alberta continues to be the only province that hasn’t increased its minimum wage this year. Its current rate of $15 per hour is its rate, which as of this writing, is the overall lowest in Canada. The decision to keep wages stagnant in Alberta has sparked discussions regarding the economic implications for workers in the province.
Recent hikes in most provinces were propelled by the desire to address escalating costs of living. This change is in line with notable findings from Canada’s consumer price index. This index has served as an important bellwether for inflation. It represents the overall increase or decrease in cost for all goods and services purchased over time.
Adverse effects of the Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island hikes. They match minimum wage policies to the lived realities of workers and families across Canada.
