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

Governor General urges Canadians to care for their mental, physical health

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon is urging Canadians to treat their mental health with the same care as their physical health as they prepare for the year ahead. In a new year's message, Simon says she is thinking of all the inspiring people she met in 2024.

Governor General urges Canadians to care for their mental, physical health

B.C. police find 'ghost gun' in car after driver said she couldn't remember name

The BC Highway Patrol says the incident happened in Fort St. John on Dec. 13, when an officer stopped the 39-year-old woman to check for impaired driving. Police say while the driver was not impaired, she told the officer she could not recall her name, prompting a vehicle search.

B.C. police find 'ghost gun' in car after driver said she couldn't remember name

B.C. ringing in new year with new rules, including 20 per cent home-flipping tax

A maximum 20-per-cent home-flipping tax is among a number of new regulations coming into effect in British Columbia starting Jan. 1. The previously announced tax, to be levied against non-exempt people who sell homes within two years of purchase, is aimed at discouraging investors "from buying housing to turn a quick profit," the province says.

B.C. ringing in new year with new rules, including 20 per cent home-flipping tax

'Tinder of construction' aims to keep B.C. building waste out of landfills

Gil Yaron barely contains his excitement when asked to describe his non-profit venture to convince construction companies, developers and renovation contractors to recycle tonnes of building material waste on Vancouver Island. "We're the Tinder of the construction sector," he said, chuckling at the reference to the online dating application. "We're the matchmaker."

'Tinder of construction' aims to keep B.C. building waste out of landfills

Experts say housing market poised to remain strong in 2025

Along with falling rates, TD economist Rishi Sondhi said the federal government's recent mortgage rule changes, which kicked in on Dec. 15, should help lift home sales and prices. While pent-up demand should translate to more homes changing hands in the coming months, he cautions that the rush will likely be exhausted in the first half of next year.

Experts say housing market poised to remain strong in 2025

Artist and activist Joe Average dies at 67, after life as vivid as his paintings

Vancouver's Joe Average was an artist, advocate and activist whose bright, multicoloured images were as multi-faceted as his existence. But his sister Karin Carson says she used to giggle about his fame and always called him by Brock, his given name.