New Minimum Wage In Quebec Effective May 1, 2025

Name: New Minimum Wage In Quebec Effective May 1, 2025
Uploaded: 2025-04-27T08:36:13-04:00
Description: Minimum wage in Quebec will rise to $16.10 per hour, a 2.22% increase from the current $15.75, effective May 1, 2025.

Last Updated On 27 April 2025, 10:08 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Minimum wage in Quebec will rise to $16.10 per hour, a 2.22% increase from the current $15.75, effective May 1, 2025.

This change will boost the annual disposable income of minimum wage workers by approximately $484, impacting around 217,400 employees, including 118,400 women, according to Quebec’s Ministry of Labour.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 minimum hourly wage hike, how it compares across Canada, and what it means for workers.

Key Highlights of Quebec’s 2025 Minimum Wage Increase

The general minimum wage increases from $15.75 to $16.10 per hour, effective May 1, 2025.
Tipped Workers: The minimum hourly wage for employees who regularly receive tips will rise from $12.60 to $12.90 per hour.
Agricultural Workers:
- Raspberry pickers: Minimum pay per kilogram increases from $4.68 to $4.78.
- Strawberry pickers: Minimum pay per kilogram rises from $1.25 to $1.28.
Economic Impact: The modest 35-cent increase reflects caution due to challenges in retail and restaurant sectors, including business closures.
Policy Goal: Quebec aims to maintain a minimum wage at 50% of the average hourly wage, with the 2025 adjustment bringing the ratio to 50.52%.

How Quebec’s Minimum Wage Compares to Other Canadian Provinces

Quebec’s new minimum wage of $16.10 per hour remains below the federal minimum wage of $17.30 per hour (effective April 1, 2024) and lags behind several provinces.

Here’s a snapshot of minimum hourly wages across Canada for 2025:

Province/Territory	Current Minimum hourly Wage	Next Scheduled Increase
Canada (Federal)	$17.75	April 1, 2026
Quebec	$15.75	$16.10 (May 1, 2025)
British Columbia	$17.40	$17.85 (June 1, 2025)
Ontario	$17.20	$17.60 (October 1, 2025)
Manitoba	$15.80	$16.00 (October 1, 2025)
Yukon	$17.94	April 1, 2026
Newfoundland and Labrador	$16.00	April 1, 2026
Nova Scotia	$15.65	April 1, 2026
Prince Edward Island	$16.00	TBD
New Brunswick	$15.65	April 1, 2026
Nunavut	$19.00	TBD
Northwest Territories	$16.05	TBD
Alberta	$15.00	TBD
Saskatchewan	$15.00	TBD

The 2025 minimum wage increase in Quebec offers a small but meaningful boost for low-wage workers, particularly in industries like retail, hospitality, and agriculture.

However, with economic pressures like inflation and sector-specific challenges, the modest 2.22% hike aims to balance worker support with business sustainability.

For comparison, Ontario’s minimum hourly wage will rise to $17.60 per hour by October 2025, making it a leader among provinces.

Still, this wage increase is a step toward improving the livelihoods of Quebec’s lowest-paid workers, but it also sparks debate about whether the hike is enough to keep up with rising costs.

Share this article with your friends and family in Quebec, and stay tuned for more updates on Canada’s evolving wage landscape!

Which province has the highest minimum hourly wage in Canada?

Nunavut leads with $19.00 per hour, followed by Yukon at $17.94.

Among provinces, British Columbia holds the top spot at $17.40, with Ontario close behind at $17.20.

Who Qualifies for Quebec’s Tipped Minimum Hourly Wage?

Workers in the following industries who regularly receive tips qualify for the $12.90 per hour tipped minimum hourly wage:

Restaurants (excluding fast food).
Businesses selling food for off-premises consumption.
Companies selling alcohol or hosting events with alcohol sales.
Ships or trains with food/alcohol retail.
Lodging establishments, including campgrounds.

What Are Tips?

Tips are voluntary payments made by customers for services, including service charges on receipts.

Employers must ensure tips are fully passed on to the employee who provided the service.

What is the new Quebec minimum hourly wage in 2025?

$16.10 per hour, effective May 1, 2025.

What is Ontario’s minimum hourly wage in 2025?

$17.20 per hour, increasing to $17.60 on October 1, 2025.

How does Quebec’s minimum hourly wage compare to the federal minimum?

Quebec’s $16.10 is lower than the federal $17.75 (effective April 1, 2026).

Satinder Bains

Satinder brings expertise, knowledge, and experience related to internal work flows at IRCC. She worked at Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh before moving to Canada. Her articles on “Chinook – An internal IRCC tool used to bulk process temporary applications” was one of the notable work on our news website