Minimum wage is going up soon across Canada — but there's a catch

Good news for those earning minimum wage in Canada — paycheques are about to get a little bigger for certain workers across the country. A big wave of wage increases is coming next month, meaning some minimum-wage workers will be earning over $1,000 more per year.

The federal government has confirmed that, starting April 1, 2025, the federal minimum wage will increase to $17.75 per hour — a 2.6% bump from the current $17.30. It may not seem like much, but for someone working full time at minimum wage, this 45-cent increase adds to $936 per year.

Meanwhile, select provinces and territories also have their own minimum wage increases scheduled for next month.

While these increases will put more money in some people's pockets, other minimum-wage workers won't see a single extra dollar. That's because the change doesn't apply across the board. Depending on where you work — and even what industry you're in — you might not be eligible for a raise at all.

Where is minimum wage going up?

The federal minimum wage only applies to federally regulated workplaces, but it's applied across the country, regardless of whether the provincial or territorial minimum wage where you live is lower. That includes industries like air transportation, banks, postal services and telecommunications, as well as the federal public service.

Employers in these industries will be required to start paying at least $17.75 per hour as of April 1, according to Employment and Social Development Canada — that is, unless the local minimum wage where you live is actually higher, which for now will only be the case in Nunavut and Yukon.

But for the majority of workers in Canada, provincial and territorial minimum wages are what really matter — and those aren't all increasing at the same rate (or at all).

At the provincial and territorial level, minimum wage is also going up next month on April 1, 2025, in four spots:

• New Brunswick — increasing from $15.30 to $15.65 (a 2.3% increase)
• Newfoundland and Labrador — rising from $15.60 to $16.00 (2.6%)
• Nova Scotia — going up from $15.20 to $15.70 (3.3%), with yet another raise scheduled for October 1
• Yukon — increasing from $17.59 to $17.94 (2.0%)

Meanwhile, a few other provinces will see increases later this year. Quebec's minimum wage will rise to $16.10 on May 1, and B.C. will reach $17.85 on June 1 — making it the only province above the federal rate.

Some provinces still lag behind

Even with these increases, some parts of Canada are falling behind. Alberta, for example, hasn't raised its minimum wage since 2019, and it remains at $15.00 per hour — tied for the lowest in the country with Saskatchewan.

Meanwhile, another wave of increases is likely to hit Manitoba, Ontario, P.E.I. and Saskatchewan later this year on October 1, although exact amounts haven't been confirmed yet by those provinces.

The federal government says these yearly adjustments help keep up with inflation and ensure wages reflect the cost of living. But with rent, groceries and other essentials continuing to climb in price, some workers may still find themselves struggling — especially in Canada's most expensive cities.

So, will you be getting a raise this year? That depends on where you live and what kind of job you have. If you work in a federally regulated industry, the increase is automatic. But if you're in a standard private sector job, you might have to wait — or you might not see a raise at all.