Quebec's minimum wage is increasing, but how does it compare to the rest of Canada?

If you're working for minimum wage in Quebec, you're getting a small pay bump this spring — but it might not be as much as you'd hoped for.

Starting May 1, 2025, the province's minimum wage will increase from $15.75 to $16.10 per hour — a 35-cent raise that translates to an annual increase of roughly $656 for full-time workers. Tipped workers will also see a slight boost, going from $12.60 to $12.90 per hour.

Quebec's Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, stated that this increase is meant to balance the needs of employees and businesses, benefiting over 200,000 workers within the province.

"This increase changes the minimum wage in a balanced way, respecting the ability of businesses to pay, while allowing workers to increase their income and preserve their purchasing power," Boulet noted in a January 31 press release.

However, at 2.22%, this is the smallest percentage increase in the last seven years. For context, Quebec's minimum wage saw a bump of $1 last year, going from $14.25 to $15.25.

Meanwhile, Statistics Canada's latest report, released on January 30, shows that average weekly earnings in Canada rose 5% in November 2024, but Quebec's increase was just 3.8%, trailing the national trend.

So, how does this new pay bump stack up against the rest of Canada?

While $16.10 might sound like a solid wage, Quebec still lags behind several other provinces and territories. Here's how it measures up to minimum wages across the country's provinces and territories:

• Nunavut: $19
• Yukon: $17.59 (increasing to $17.94 in April 2025)
• British Columbia: $17.40
• Ontario: $17.20
• Northwest Territories: $16.70
• Prince Edward Island: $16
• Manitoba: $15.80
• Quebec: $15.75 (increasing to $16.10 in May 2025)
• Newfoundland and Labrador: $15.60
• New Brunswick: $15.30
• Nova Scotia: $15.20 (increasing to $15.70 in April 2025)
• Saskatchewan: $15
• Alberta: $15 (unchanged since 2018)

While Quebec's increase puts it ahead of provinces like New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Alberta, it still sits below Ontario, British Columbia, and all three territories, where wages better reflect the rising cost of living.

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