Minimum wage in Ontario is about to increase again

Some Canadian employees are about to get pay bumps as the minimum wage is set to increase in certain provinces in October.

The federal minimum wage was raised on April 1 to keep pace with inflation. It increased by 45 cents to $17.75. It applies to employees and interns working in the federally regulated private sector, including businesses like banks, telecom companies, and interprovincial air, marine, rail and road transportation.

And, a new slate of minimum wage increases are coming to some provinces next month, too.

According to the government, if the minimum wage in a province or territory is higher than the federal number, federally regulated employers must apply the higher rate.

Here are the pay increases Canadians can expect in five provinces, including Ontario, on Oct. 1.

Ontario

The hourly amount in Ontario will increase from $17.20 to $17.60 to keep pace with the province's 2.4 per cent inflation rate.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development of Ontario, minimum wage employees who work 40 hours a week will see an annual pay increase of up to $835 due to these changes.

Ontario gave its lowest-paid workers a 65-cent raise last October, with the wage going from $16.55 to $17.20 per hour. Of course, those in minimum wage positions that earn tips can end up making far more.

Manitoba

On the first day of October, the lowest-paid workers in Manitoba will receive a pay increase of 20 cents, going from $15.80 to $16.

"This adjustment reflects Manitoba's 2024 inflation rate of 1.1 per cent, rounded up to the nearest five cents," reads an announcement from the provincial government.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is set to raise its minimum wage from $15 to $15.35 next month.

"By raising the minimum wage, we are continuing to support workers and deliver on our commitment to affordability," Deputy Premier and Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter said in an announcement in July.

The provincial government pledged to make incremental increases to minimum wage in 2022, resulting in a 27 per cent increase from $11.81 per hour to $15 by 2024.

The government stated that, since this commitment has been met, it will now calculate pay bumps to keep pace with the province's Consumer Price Index.

Nova Scotia

The lowest-paid workers in Nova Scotia get multiple pay bumps this year. The first was in April, when the government hiked the minimum wage by 50 cents from $15.20 to $15.70. On Oct. 1, that will go up by another 80 cents to $16.50. Altogether, that's an increase of $1.30 in 2025.

"Inflation continues to put pressure on families across the province. We need to do what we can to help," said Nolan Young, minister of labour, skills and immigration, in an announcement in January.

"This year, we will see one of the biggest increases in minimum wage ever made in our province. We're supporting hard-working Nova Scotians while addressing the rising cost of living."

Like other provinces, Nova Scotia's minimum wage is updated every year on April 1 based on inflation. 

Prince Edward Island

P.E.I. will raise its minimum wage from $16 to $16.50 per hour in October. This is part of the government's commitment to incrementally increase the pay of its lowest-paid workers to $17 by April 1, 2026.