Quebec minimum wage rises to $16.60 as study says workers still lag behind

Quebec’s minimum wage increased by 50 cents on May 1, 2026, bringing the hourly rate to $16.60. The province says the move is meant to help offset inflation and support workers with low incomes. But a new study from the Quebec think tank IRIS says the increase is still well below what is needed for a decent standard of living in Montreal. The report estimates that a single person would need about $30 an hour, or $41,585 a year for fulltime work, to cover basic costs and some savings. For a family of four, the study puts that figure at $88,812. IRIS researcher EveLyne Couturier said lowincome workers are being squeezed as food and housing costs rise faster than inflation. Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet said the government is trying to balance worker purchasing power with the ability of small and mediumsized businesses to pay higher wages. Antipoverty advocates said the increase remains too small and will do little to lift workers out of poverty.