Minimum Wage Is Going Up In 9 Provinces & Territories In 2020 But Alberta Is Still The Top
Making a living off minimum wage can sometimes be hard, especially if you live somewhere in Canada where that figure is low. You'd probably be hard-pressed to find someone who would turn down a pay increase but sometimes those changes can barely make a difference. For those people, there's good news. Almost every province and territory is getting an increase this year.
In nine different regions across the country, the minimum amount you can be paid is set to go up for 2020 based on inflation and other factors.
Even national changes could be coming soon. During Question Period in the House of Commons on February 18, a Liberal minister announced that the government's "plan for the future" includes implementing a $15 federal minimum wage.
"We remain committed to Canada's workers," said Filomena Tassi, Minister of Labour, in the House.
However, changing paycheques is up to provinces and territories and a federal minimum wage would only affect workers that are in federally regulated sectors like banking.
Some places in Canada have it better when it comes to how much workers have to get paid and right now there's a $3.68 difference between the highest and lowest.
Even with some of the upcoming raises, one province still holds the top spot. Here's how those wages look across the country.
B.C.
In B.C. right now, the minimum wage is set at $13.85 which came into effect in June 2019. That's the third-highest in the country.
On June 1, 2020, the rate will be bumped up to $14.60 and then again to $15.20 the following year.
Yukon
The pay rate in Yukon is $12.71 which isn't the worst but certainly not the best.
According to the Retail Council of Canada, that figure is adjusted on April 1 of every year relative to inflation and it'll go up to $13.71 per hour this year.
Alberta
Alberta has the highest amount in all of Canada. At $15 an hour, only Ontario comes close to the province right now.
From 2018 to 2019, that amount didn't change and there's no word yet on if any increase will happen this year.
Northwest Territories
In the Northwest Territories, the hourly rate is set at $13.46 which is the fourth highest in the country.
However, there's nothing that says it has to change every single year.
Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, wages changed to $11.32 an hour in October 2019.
Each year, the amount changes as a result of inflation and is announced annually either on or before June 30. So you'll have to wait and see if it's going up this year!
Nunavut
The minimum amount that workers have to get paid in Nunavut was last raised in 2016 to $13 an hour.
A review of the minimum wage started in September 2019 but there hasn't been an announcement if it'll change.
Manitoba
In Manitoba, a new wage amount went into effect in October of last year and it rose to $11.65.
There's no word yet about another bump this year.
Ontario
Ontarians have the second highest in Canada at $14 an hour.
The province's previous government planned to raise it to $15 but Doug Ford's government scrapped that and kept the rate at $14.
If a raise will happen in 2020, you'll hear about it on or before April 1 and it'll come into effect on October 1.
Quebec
Set at $12.50, Quebec's right now is right in the middle of the pack.
However, as of May 1, 2020, it'll be bumped to $13.10 an hour.
New Brunswick
The current rate is $11.50 an hour but will rise to $11.70 on April 1, 2020.
That might not make a huge difference but any increase is something.
P.E.I.
P.E.I. is also getting a small increase this year.
Instead of workers getting $12.25 per hour, they'll get $12.85 as of April 1, 2020.
Nova Scotia
Workers in Nova Scotia currently get $11.55 per hour but that'll go up by $1 on April 1, 2020 to $12.55.
According to Global News, that's the biggest annual increase since 2010.
Newfoundland & Labrador
The minimum pay in Newfoundland & Labrador is currently set at $11.40 which is the second lowest in Canada.
However, there will be increases in four different stages coming between April 1, 2020 and October 1, 2021.
First, the rate will go up to to $11.65 on April 1, 2020. Then on October 1 of the same year, it'll go to $12.15.
The following year, it'll go up again based on inflation plus an additional 25 cents.
Then finally on October 1, 2021, there will be another 25-cent raise on top of inflation from earlier in the year.