National

B.C.’s minimum wage increases to $18.25, June 1

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 26 May, 2026 10:57 AM

As of Monday, June 1, 2026, the province's general minimum wage will rise to $18.25 an hour.

Types of wages affected

The increase of just over 2.1% raises the general minimum wage from $17.85 to $18.25 per hour. The same percentage increase applies to the minimum rates for resident caretakers, live-in home-support workers, live-in camp leaders and app-based ride-hailing and delivery service workers.

The minimum agricultural piece-rate wages for the hand harvesting of specified crops will increase by just over 2.1% on Dec. 31, 2026. The Dec. 31 date for the annual increase to the minimum piece rates ensures crop producers will not need to adjust wages in the middle of the harvesting season.

Context for this increase

* The Province is committed to a minimum wage structure that benefits the lowest-paid workers, while providing employers with certainty and predictability.

* Changes were made to the Employment Standards Act in 2024 to ensure annual minimum wage increases occur automatically based on B.C.'s average monthly inflation rate from the previous year.

* Approximately 141,300 employees in B.C. earned the minimum wage or less in 2025.

* These increases have moved B.C. from near the bottom to among the highest minimum wages in Canada.

Learn More:

* For details on this year's minimum wage increase, read the news release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026LBR0002-000191

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Red shirts and red-rimmed eyes: 740,000 Alberta students back to classes post-strike

There were red shirts, red-rimmed eyes – and a lot of questions — as more than 740,000 students returned to classes in Alberta on Wednesday after a provincewide teachers strike.

Red shirts and red-rimmed eyes: 740,000 Alberta students back to classes post-strike

Budget to include funding for women, LGBTQ initiatives: Champagne

The federal government is announcing the upcoming budget will include new money to support women’s participation in leadership roles and to provide security for LGBTQ communities during Pride events.

Budget to include funding for women, LGBTQ initiatives: Champagne

Federal officials not sure when immigration levels plan is coming

Prime Minister Mark Carney said in his pre-budget speech last week that the upcoming federal budget will include "Canada's new immigration plan," but immigration department officials don't know if that includes the annual levels plan.

Federal officials not sure when immigration levels plan is coming

U.S. ambassador should apologize to Ontario rep over reported tirade: Ford

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the U.S. ambassador to Canada should apologize to Ontario's representative in Washington after sources say he shouted profanely about the province's anti-tariff ad.

U.S. ambassador should apologize to Ontario rep over reported tirade: Ford

Bank of Canada lowers key interest rate but signals cuts may be done

The Bank of Canada cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point Wednesday and signalled it may be satisfied with where the policy rate sits amid ongoing U.S. trade uncertainty.

Bank of Canada lowers key interest rate but signals cuts may be done

B.C. man, 52, arrested in 1997 Ontario sexual assault investigation: OPP

Ontario Provincial Police say a British Columbia man has been arrested in a historic sexual assault investigation spanning nearly three decades and involving four alleged victims, three of whom were teens at the time.