New Minimum Wage In Ontario and 5 Provinces Effective Oct 1
he new minimum wage in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island will come into effect on October 1, 2023.
This year, the minimum wage was raised by British Columbia on June 1 and Quebec on May 1, after the Federal minimum wage went up at $16.65 on April 1.
The minimum wage is the lowest wage rate set by Canadian provinces; it is the minimum remuneration below which a business cannot hire any employee legally.
This minimum wage applies to all employees, regardless of age or number of hours worked and paying less than the minimum set wage is illegal.
New minimum wage in Ontario
Ontario’s new minimum wage, which goes into effect on October 1st, will be $16.55 per hour. This will be a $1.05 increase from $15.50 an hour.
On January 1, 2022, Ontario’s current minimum wage of $15 came into effect. On October 1, 2022, the general minimum wage in Ontario will rise to $15.50.
As per the Ontario government, this rise implies that someone earning the minimum wage and working 40 hours per week will see their salary increase by over $2,200 per year.
According to the Ontario Living Wage Network, the living wage in many parts of Ontario is $19/hr, but it is more than $23/hr in the GTA.
Students under the age of 18, who work 28 hours or less per week when school is in session or work during a school vacation or summer holidays, will also see their hourly wage rise from $14.60 to $15.60.
Minimum wage for homeworkers (people who do paid work from home for companies) will be increased from $17.05 to $18.20 per hour.
For hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides minimum wage will rise from $77.60 and $82.85 per day while working fewer than five continuous hours, and from $155.25 and $165.75 per day when working five or more hours.
Labor supporters and opposition opponents, on the other hand, have stated that Ontario’s minimum wage should be at least $20 per hour.
Manitoba’s new minimum wage
Manitoba’s new minimum wage, which goes into effect on October 1st, will be $15.30 per hour. An increase of $1.15 from current minimum wage of $14.15 an hour.
Manitoba also increased the minimum wage on April 1, 2023 by $0.65 to $14.15 per hour.
As on October 1, the province has increased the minimum wage by a total of $1.80 per hour in 2023 from $13.50 an hour to $15.30 per hour.
Now the province will return to annual changes based on provincial CPI, with the next hourly rate expected to be revised on October 1, 2024.
New Nova Scotia minimum wage
Nova Scotia is also set to increase the minimum wage second time in 2023 to $15 per hour on October 1, 2023.
Previously, the minimum wage was increased to $14.50 an hour on April 1, 2023, from $13.60 per hour. This is a $1.40 raise in the minimum wage.
The minimum wage rates would now be revised annually on October 1, 2024, according to inflation plus an additional 1%.
Minimum wage increasing in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan will be increasing the minimum wage in the province by $1 from $13 to $14 per hour, which goes into effect on October 1st.
Last raise was done on October 1, 2022, when the Saskatchewan government raised the minimum wage from $11.81 to $13.00 per hour.
The minimum wage will further increase to $15 per hour on October 1, 2024.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s New Minimum Wage
Newfoundland and Labrador is also increasing the minimum wage for the second time this year. The new minimum wage will be $15 per hour, effective October 1.
Previously, on April 1, 2023, the province raised the minimum wage to $14.50 per hour from $13.70 per hour.
The Minister is still examining the advice of the Minimum Pay Review Committee to boost minimum pay rates by inflation plus 1% per year after 2024.
Prince Edward Island minimum wage raise
The minimum wage in Prince Edward Island (PEI) will increase by 50 cents from $14.50 an hour to $15 per hour on October 1, 2023.
Previously, PEI increased the minimum wage by 80 cents on January 1, 2023, to $14.50 per hour from $13.70 an hour.
Minimum wage in all the Canadian Provinces and Next Raise Schedule
| Geography | Current Minimum Wage | Upcoming Raise | Effective Date |
| Ontario | $15.50 | $16.55 | October 1, 2023 |
| Manitoba | $14.15 | $15.30 | October 1, 2023 |
| Nova Scotia | $14.50 | $15.00 | October 1, 2023 |
| Saskatchewan | $13.00 | $15.00 | October 1, 2023 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $14.50 | $15.00 | October 1, 2023 |
| Prince Edward Island | $14.50 | $15.00 | October 1, 2023 |
| Canada (Federally regulated private sectors) | $16.65 | $17.75 (estimated) | April 1, 2024 |
| New Brunswick | $14.75 | $15.50 (estimated) | April 1, 2024 (Expected) |
| Alberta | $15.00 | TBD | To Be Decided (TBD) |
| British Columbia | $16.75 | $17.75 (estimated) | June 1, 2024 |
| Quebec | $15.25 | $16.25 (estimated) | May 1, 2024 |
| Nunavut | $16.00 | TBD | April 1, 2024 |
| Northwest Territories | $16.05 | $17 (estimated) | September 1, 2024 |
| Yukon | $16.77 | $17.50(estimated) | April 1, 2024 |
Minimum Wages in Canadian provinces
Alberta is the only province left to increase the minimum wage in the province. In fact, Alberta has not increased their minimum wage since 2018.
Which province has the highest minimum wage in Canada?
British Columbia has the highest minimum wage in Canada at $16.75 per hour effective June 1, 2023, and is expected to increase further on June 1, 2024.
What is the minimum wage in Ontario?
The current minimum wage in Ontario is $15.50 per hour effective October 1, 2022, which is scheduled to increase on October 1, 2023, to $16.55 an hour.
When does the minimum wage go up in Ontario?
The minimum wage in Ontario is scheduled to increase on October 1, 2023, to $16.55 per hour.
What is the minimum wage in Saskatchewan?
The current minimum wage in Saskatchewan is $13.00 per hour effective October 1, 2022. This is scheduled to increase to $14 an hour effective October 1, 2023.
What is the minimum wage in Manitoba?
The current minimum wage in Manitoba is $14.15 per hour effective April 1, 2023. This minimum wage is set to increase again on October 1, 2023 to $15.30 an hour.
Source: https://immigrationnewscanada.ca/new-minimum-wage-ontario-and-5-provinces/
