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

Cars carrying grains derailed into river

A derailment has sent rail cars carrying grain plunging into the Fraser River, and CN Rail says it's working to restore the tracks near Boston Bar, B.C. It says the incident involving about a dozen cars from a CPKC train on its mainline east of the Fraser Canyon community happened on Sunday due to a rockslide.

Cars carrying grains derailed into river

Over 280M trees planted: BC Gov

British Columbia's forests ministry says more than 280 million trees were planted in the province this year. It says 13 different native tree species were chosen in its effort to preserve ecosystems and prioritize characteristics including resilience to climate change.

Over 280M trees planted: BC Gov

Green Party's Elizabeth May reflects on unprecedented week in Canadian politics

In a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, May — now in her 13th year as the B.C. MP for Saanich—Gulf Islands — spoke about the bombshell events on Parliament Hill, the parliamentary stalemate that has paralyzed the House of Commons for months and her thoughts on the fate of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal leadership.

Green Party's Elizabeth May reflects on unprecedented week in Canadian politics

Ontario asks Canada's highest court to hear youth-led climate case

Ontario is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to urgently decide whether it will hear a historic youth-led challenge of the province's climate plan. It's the first case to be tried in Canada that considers whether a government's climate plan can violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ontario asks Canada's highest court to hear youth-led climate case

Bank of Canada watching economy closely after half-point rate cut

Members considered only cutting by a quarter-point, but ultimately brought the rate down to 3.25 per cent in a bid to bring it closer to its so called neutral rate, where it is neither slowing nor speeding up economic growth.

Bank of Canada watching economy closely after half-point rate cut

Environment Canada issues blizzard warning in Yukon, gusts up to 100 km/h expected

Environment Canada has issued a blizzard warning for Dempster Highway near the Richardson Mountains in Yukon. The advisory warns drivers in the region that travel is "extremely hazardous" due to gusty winds with "persistent visibility near zero" due to blowing snow.