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Thousands of workers across Quebec will see a small bump in their pay starting today.
As of May 1, 2026, the provincial minimum wage has officially increased by 50 cents, bringing the hourly rate to $16.60.
The Quebec government says the raise will help counter inflation, but a new study suggests that for those living in the province’s largest city the increase is far from enough.
For a single person living in Montreal, approximately $30 per hour — or $41,585 working full time — is what is considered a living income, according to a study released Thursday by the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques (IRIS), a Quebec think tank.
The study describes a living income as enough money to cover essential expenses related to transportation, housing and food, as well as be able to enjoy cultural activities, take a vacation and set aside some savings for unforeseen events.
A family of four requires $88,812.
“There’s a big gap between what you earn and what you need to get out of poverty, and the gap is getting wider year after year,” IRIS researcher Eve-Lyne Couturier told CBC’s Quebec AM.
Couturier noted that costs are rising more quickly than the rate of inflation for people on low incomes.
That’s because they spend a greater proportion of their income on things like food and housing, both of which are rising more quickly than inflation in Quebec, she said.
Quebec near middle of pack
Quebec is near the middle of the pack when it comes to the minimum wage. While some provinces have seen more aggressive hikes as cost of living has skyrocketed, others have been slower to raise the minimum wage.
British Columbia has the highest minimum wage, at $18.25, while Alberta has the lowest, at $15. Neighbouring Ontario has a minimum wage of $17.60.
Jean Boulet, Quebec’s labour minister, said the government is trying to strike to strike a balance with its increase.
“We’re doing enough to increase the purchasing power of the people who receive minimum wage and in conformity with the paying capacity of the small and medium-sized businesses in this very difficult economic context,” he said Friday, adding that Quebec has a strong social safety net to help those with low incomes.
However, Le Collectif pour un Québec sans pauvreté, an anti-poverty group, said the raise wasn’t enough.
“With this increase, a single person working 35 hours a week year-round will see their disposable income increase by barely $300, or less than $6 per week,” said Serge Petitclerc, a spokesperson for the group.
“The government is keeping people in poverty rather than lifting them out of it.”