February 26, 2026
RED FM News Desk
The British Columbia government has announced a 2.24% increase to the provincial minimum wage this summer, a move aimed at helping the province’s lowest-paid workers keep up with the rising cost of living.
Starting June 1, 2026, the general minimum wage will rise from $17.85 to $18.25 per hour. Labor Minister Jennifer Whiteside emphasized that the increase is a necessary response to the financial pressure many residents are facing due to inflation.
“We established the rule for annual wage increases to ensure that workers’ earnings keep pace with the rising costs of essentials like food and transportation,” Whiteside stated. “This is vital for the employees we rely on every single day.”
The 2.24% increase will also apply to several specialized labor categories starting in June, including Residential Caretakers, Live-in Home-Support Workers, Camp Leaders, App-based Delivery and Ride-hailing Workers.
Furthermore, minimum piece rates for hand-harvested crops will see a similar increase at the end of the year. This scheduling ensures that agricultural producers do not have to adjust labor costs in the middle of the busy harvest season.
With this update, British Columbia remains the province with the highest minimum wage in Canada, sitting 25 cents ahead of Ontario. While the territory of Nunavut maintains the overall national lead at $19.75, B.C. continues to outpace all other provincial jurisdictions.
Despite the raise, advocacy groups argue the increase is insufficient. Living Wage BC warned that the new rate remains nearly $8.80 per hour lower than the “living wage” required to live with dignity in Metro Vancouver. The organization noted that simply tying wages to general inflation fails to address the deeper affordability crisis driven by soaring housing and secondary living costs.
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