Federal Minimum Wage to Rise to $18.15 on April 1 | CBC News

Canada’s federal minimum wage will increase to $18.15 per hour on April 1, 2026, a 40-cent increase from the current rate of $17.75, the government announced Tuesday.

The increase, which applies to workers in federally regulated industries including transport, banking, and telecommunications, is tied to Canada’s annual average Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2025, which registered at 2.1 per cent. The new wage is then rounded up to the nearest five-cent increment, according to a government news release.

The federal minimum wage was first introduced in 2021 under the government of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The current adjustment represents a cumulative increase of 21% since its inception, officials stated.

While the federal minimum wage applies to a specific segment of the Canadian workforce, the majority of employees are covered by provincial or territorial minimum wage rates. These rates vary significantly across the country, ranging from $15 per hour in Alberta to $19.75 in Nunavut.

The federal government framed the increase as a measure to protect jobs, strengthen local economies, and ensure workers can adapt to changing economic realities. Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, Patty Hajdu, stated that maintaining an updated minimum wage “is a floor that protects workers, especially those in the lowest paid jobs in federally regulated sectors.”

The increase to $18.15 per hour is as well presented as complementary to other government initiatives aimed at affordability, including the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and the Food Security Fund.