Barrie 
The federal minimum wage is set to rise again this spring by 40 cents.
The federal government says the rate will increase to $18.15 per hour starting April 1, 2026. That marks a 21 percent jump since the federal wage was first set as a standalone standard in 2021.
This wage applies to workers in federally regulated private sectors, such as banking, telecommunications, and transportation. Employers in those sectors will need to update payroll to meet the new rate.
The adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index. In 2025, inflation rose by 2.1 percent, which drove this year’s increase from $17.75 per hour. The rate is recalculated every year and rounded to the nearest five cents.
Across the country, rates are shifting at the same time. New Brunswick will move to $15.90, while Newfoundland and Labrador is set at $16.35. Prince Edward Island will reach $17.00. Yukon stands higher at $18.51.
British Columbia is set to hit $18.25 on June 1.
Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu says indexing the wage to inflation helps protect workers, especially those earning the least. She describes it as a baseline that keeps pay standards steady as costs rise.
The wage increase is also being positioned alongside other affordability measures, including the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and the Food Security Fund.
If a province or territory sets a higher minimum wage, employers must pay that higher rate instead.
So the federal wage increase was decided to be $.40 per hour, so is this what all our politicians are expecting to get? I hopefully don’t expect them to get more than what the rest of the Canadian citizens are getting. Otherwise, I think they are just scamming the citizens and padding their pockets.. where am I wrong?