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

B.C. police discipline ruling voided because officer overseeing investigation retired

The disciplinary decision must now be reissued, dragging out the victim's pursuit of justice over how she was treated by colleagues in the wake of the 2019 attack. She called the situation a "screw-up" by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, which she said had failed its oversight mission.

B.C. police discipline ruling voided because officer overseeing investigation retired

Trudeau calls meeting with opposition leaders about Canada-U.S. border plan

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with opposition leaders in his office on Parliament Hill on Tuesday morning to brief them on the government's plan for the Canada-U.S. border. Trudeau's office said he initiated the meeting after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatened punitive tariffs if Canada doesn't do more to stem the passage of people and illegal drugs across the border.

Trudeau calls meeting with opposition leaders about Canada-U.S. border plan

Canada Post strike nears three-week mark amid pressure for government intervention

The strike by more than 55,000 Canada Post workers entered its 19th day as the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping weekend came to a close. Canada Post said Monday it was waiting for the union to respond to a framework it presented over the weekend for reaching negotiated agreements.

Canada Post strike nears three-week mark amid pressure for government intervention

Joly touts 'private' diplomacy as Mexico criticizes Canada's culture, trade

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is not escalating a war of words with Mexico, after the Mexican president criticized Canada's culture and its framing of border issues. The rift between trading partners started with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's declaration that he plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods from both countries unless they stop the flow of migrants and illegal drugs into the U.S.

Joly touts 'private' diplomacy as Mexico criticizes Canada's culture, trade

Food banks need help, but charity won't end hunger, advocates say

It's GivingTuesday, and some directors of food banks and anti-poverty groups say the day underlines a conundrum for their organizations. Josh Smee of Food First Newfoundland and Labrador says that on one hand, demand for food banks is surging to historical heights, stretching resources thin and putting these facilities in desperate need of donations.

Food banks need help, but charity won't end hunger, advocates say

Liberal minister says Trump was joking when he suggested Canada become 51st state

President-elect Donald Trump was joking when he suggested Canada become the 51st U.S. state during a dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Florida on Friday, said a Liberal minister who attended the meeting. Fox News reported on Monday that Trump made the comment in response to the Canadians raising concerns that tariffs would hurt their economy.