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

Crash lands 2 children in hospital

Police in Whitehorse say two children are in hospital after a single-vehicle crash on Tuesday. R-C-M-P, the fire department, and emergency services responded to a crash involving one vehicle that hit the children while they were on bicycles.

Crash lands 2 children in hospital

Walmart Canada says underweight meat problem fixed by B.C. supplier

Walmart, Sobeys and Loblaw Companies were hit with a class-action lawsuit last week alleging they "misrepresented" the weight of meat by including the weight of packaging in prices. Walmart Canada says in an emailed statement that a third-party supplier was responsible for an "isolated incident" at the Richmond store for a two-week period last month.

Walmart Canada says underweight meat problem fixed by B.C. supplier

'Water's away': How Canadian helicopters and waterbombers are helping tame L.A. fires

British Columbia-based Coulson Aviation released the video of its crew "delivering a precision water drop on the Palisades Fire in California." Coulson's helicopters as well as waterbombing planes provided by Quebec have played a high-profile role in the battle against the fires that have claimed at least 25 lives and destroyed thousands of homes.

'Water's away': How Canadian helicopters and waterbombers are helping tame L.A. fires

B.C. forests minister says Trump tariffs could be 'devastating' to sector

B.C.'s Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says U.S. softwood lumber duties and president-elect Donald Trump's threatened tariffs could be "devastating" to the province's forestry sector. He says the province needs to bring a "team B.C. and a team Canada" approach to fighting the duties.

B.C. forests minister says Trump tariffs could be 'devastating' to sector

Trudeau says he hopes Gaza ceasefire will 'turn down the temperature' in Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is welcoming news of a ceasefire deal to pause the 15-month war in the Gaza Strip. He says he hopes the deal will "turn down the temperature" on tensions in Canada and rebuild strained relationships between people affected by the war.

Trudeau says he hopes Gaza ceasefire will 'turn down the temperature' in Canada

B.C. farmers challenge government order to cull ostrich herd over avian flu outbreak

British Columbia ostrich farmers ordered to cull a herd of 400 due to an avian flu outbreak are holding onto hope that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will change its mind before their kill date in just over two weeks. The federal agency sent Universal Ostrich Farms Inc. a notice on Dec. 31 instructing their ostriches to be destroyed and disposed of by Feb. 1, but the owners are asking for more time to prove their farm should be spared.