Federal minimum wage increasing to $17.75

Federally-regulated workers making minimum wage soon take home more money.

The minimum wage will climb to $17.75 per hour as of April 1, an increase of 45 cents.

Federal officials said that is aligned with the year-over-year inflation rate, which rose by 2.4 per cent.

“The federal minimum wage brings stability and certainty to Canadian workers and businesses alike and helps reduce income inequality across the board,” Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said in a news release.

“Today’s increase brings us one step closer to building a more fair economy.”

Should the provincial or territorial minimum wage exceed the federal rate, employers must pay the higher of the two.

The federal minimum wage has steadily increased from $15 since its introduction in 2021, including a $1.10 increase in 2023.