St. John's 
Labour Minister Mike Goosney announced a $0.35 increase, bringing the province’s base rate to $16.35 per hour as of April 1, 2026.
Credit: Simon Kadula/ Unsplash
The overtime minimum will move up as well, reaching $24.53 per hour.
The change follows the formula set out in the province’s Labour Standards Regulations. Each year on April 1, the rate is recalculated based on shifts in the national Consumer Price Index. In other words, the increase is tied directly to inflation.
Goosney said the adjustment is intended to help workers cope with higher living costs while also giving employers stability. He emphasized the importance of ongoing discussions with workers, businesses and other stakeholders, noting that predictable wage updates allow employers to plan ahead.
Looking across the country, minimum wages vary widely. Among the provinces, British Columbia has the highest minimum wage at $17.85 per hour, followed by Ontario at $17.60 until the end of September 2026.
Closer to home, Nova Scotia has a minimum wage of $16.50 per hour. P.E.I. is scheduled to increase further to $17.00 on April 1, 2026. New Brunswick will move to $15.90 on the same date.
Several provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Yukon, link their minimum wages to inflation, updating them annually. The federal minimum wage is set at $17.75 per hour and is also adjusted each April based on inflation data from Statistics Canada.
