Victoria,BC- The Government of British Columbia has announced that the province’s lowest-paid workers will see a wage increase to $18.25 per hour effective June 1, 2026. The increase is tied to inflation, ensuring wages keep pace with the rising cost of living.
“Working people in our province are feeling the pressure of inflation,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Labour. “That’s why we acted to bring in annual minimum-wage increases, which have helped paycheques keep up with increasing costs of essentials like food and transportation. This matters for everyone, and especially for minimum-wage workers, the people doing the jobs so many of us rely on every day.”
The June 1 increase applies to the general minimum wage and extends to several specialized wage categories. These include rates for resident caretakers, live-in home-support workers, live-in camp leaders, and piece-rate agricultural workers. The special minimum wage for app-based ride-hailing and delivery-service workers, introduced in September 2024, will also rise. As of June 1, 2026, app-based ride-hailing and delivery workers will earn $21.89 per hour of engaged time.
Additionally, minimum piece rates for hand-harvested crops will increase by the same percentage on December 31, 2026, ensuring agricultural workers also benefit from the inflation adjustment.
Since 2017, B.C. has implemented gradual and consistent minimum-wage increases aimed at providing stability for workers and predictability for businesses. In 2024, legislation was introduced to automatically tie annual minimum-wage increases to the previous year’s inflation rate.
Over time, these changes have elevated B.C.’s minimum wage from near the bottom nationally to among the highest in Canada. The province now holds the highest minimum wage among all Canadian provinces, reinforcing its commitment to supporting workers amid rising living costs.
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