Six Canadian provinces will increase their minimum wage rates soon by October 1 of this year.
Also, the federal minimum wage in Canada increased at the beginning of this month from $15.55 to $16.65. Further, ESDC observed at the time that this action had an impact since “about 26,000 working Canadians earn less than $15.55 per hour.”
Six Canadian provinces will increase minimum wage rates soon by October
Moreover, Canadians in more than half of the country’s provinces will soon see a regional minimum wage rise that coincides with that minimum wage increase on a federal level.
More specifically, the following minimum wage hikes are planned to take effect on October 1:
- Ontario: From $15.50 to up to $16.55
- Manitoba: From $14.15 to up to $15.30
- Saskatchewan: From $13 to up to $14
- Nova Scotia: From $14.50 to up to $15.00
- Up to $15.00 from $14.50 in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island: From $14.50 to up to $15.00
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan has already stated that it will increase the federal minimum wage from $14.00 to $15.00 per hour in October 2024.
Six Canadian provinces will increase minimum wage rates soon -the meaning of these changes for new immigrants
The Ontario Living Wage Network’s communications coordinator, Craig Pickthorne, claims that “immigrants” are one of three groups, along with “equity-seeking groups” and “women,”. These “overwhelmingly” locate themselves close to “the bottom scale of the wage spectrum.”
Therefore, the news of rising regional minimum pay rates will help a large number of recent Canadian immigrants. Particularly since the federal minimum wage rise from earlier this month only affects workers in federally regulated occupations.
The table below illustrates how many new permanent residents arrived in each Canadian province in the previous year. The hike in the minimum wage in October will be a welcome improvement in the earning capacity for a sizeable number of the recent immigrants in the six provinces receiving it. Therefore, it is logical to assume that this relocation will help them build more comfortable lives in their new residence.
| Province/Territory | PRs in 2022 | % of all PRs | Change in % from 2021 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 3,490 | 0.7% | +0.2% |
| Prince Edward Island | 2,665 | 0.6% | – |
| Nova Scotia | 12,650 | 2.8% | +0.6% |
| New Brunswick | 10,205 | 2.3% | +1% |
| Quebec | 68,685 | 15.7% | +3.4% |
| Ontario | 184,725 | 42.2% | -6.7% |
| Manitoba | 21,645 | 4.9% | +0.8% |
| Saskatchewan | 21,635 | 4.9% | +2.2% |
| Alberta | 49,460 | 11.3% | +1.4% |
| British Columbia | 61,215 | 14% | -3.1% |
| Yukon | 455 | 0.1% | – |
| Northwest Territories | 235 | 0.0% | -0.1% |
| Nunavut | 45 | 0.0% | – |
| Province not stated | 20 | 0.0% | -0.1% |
| Canada total | 437,120 | 100% | – |
Canadian new immigrants to have protection due to the Universal Labor Laws
Despite the fact that immigrants from Canada tend to overrepresent themselves in low-paying jobs, they are still entitled to the same protections and rights as all other workers in this country.
According to the Canadian Labour Code, everyone with employment has a right to a safe workplace and fair pay. This includes Canadians, temporary foreign employees, international students, and permanent residents.
Along with job training, “reasonable” healthcare services, information about their rights, and a signed copy of their employment agreement, employers across Canada are required to offer these benefits to all of their workers, including newcomers.
The terms of any applicable overtime labor, as well as the rate of pay and other pertinent information, must be a part of the employment agreement. Additionally, employees must get a copy of this agreement by the time they start working.
Likewise, employers in Canada must make sure they don’t treat staff unfairly in any of the following ways, including:
- Forcing workers to do dangerous or unspecified tasks in violation of their employment agreements.
- Making sick or injured workers report for duty.
- Forcing employees who don’t have such terms in their employment agreement to work extra.
- Removing a worker’s work permit or passport.
- Changing an employee’s immigration status or expressing deportation fears about them.
What about complaining about an employer’s misconduct?
Employees in Canada, particularly immigrants, may be reluctant to report workplace wrongdoing out of fear of negative consequences like losing their jobs. Hence, all Canadians should be aware that there are provincial and territory occupational health and safety offices available across the nation to assist with reporting these situations.
For instance, urgent and immediate concerns can be reported by phone to the Health and Safety Contact Centre in Ontario, the province where the majority of Canadian immigrants settle.
