Minimum working age · Canada
Minimum working age by province.
How old a person must be to work in each Canadian jurisdiction, and the permit, consent, hour and job limits that apply to young workers.
There is no single national age. Quebec sets 14, Saskatchewan 16, Ontario 14 to 19 by workplace, federal work 18 with exceptions, and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut set no minimum in their Acts.
Choose your jurisdiction
Minimum Working Age, jurisdiction by jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 14, 15, 16, 18 or 19 depending on the workplace |
| Quebec | 14; under 14 only listed jobs with parental consent |
| British Columbia | Director’s permission under 14; consent for light work at 14 or 15 |
| Alberta | No permit from 15; listed jobs at 13 and 14; artistic work only at 12 and under |
| Manitoba | Work readiness certificate and parental consent under 16 |
| Saskatchewan | 16, or 14 and 15 under conditions; special permit under 14 |
| Nova Scotia | Sector bans under 16; restaurants allowed at 14 and 15 |
| New Brunswick | Authorization needed under 16; industry bans under 14 |
| Prince Edward Island | Youth Employment Act rules apply under 16 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Under 14 only prescribed work; written consent under 16 |
| Northwest Territories | No minimum age; youth protections to 16 |
| Nunavut | No minimum age in the Act; conditions apply under 17 |
| Federal | 18, with exceptions set by regulation |
Not covered on this page
- Yukon: yukon.ca and laws.yukon.ca refused automated access on 19 October 2026 (a Cloudflare challenge on every request), so no Yukon figure is published here.
Sources: each jurisdiction’s own employment standards Act or government guide, read directly 19 October 2026. The exact pages are linked on each jurisdiction’s page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one minimum working age in Canada?
No. Each jurisdiction sets its own, and several split it by workplace, job or whether a permit or parent’s consent is on file. Quebec states 14, Saskatchewan 16, Ontario sets 14, 15, 16, 18 or 19 depending on the workplace, and federal law restricts employment under 18 to occupations the regulations specify.
Do school hours change what a young person can do?
Yes. Most jurisdictions on this page bar work during school hours or cap hours on school days, such as the three-hour school-day caps in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador (and for under-14s in Nova Scotia), and the 20-hour school-week cap in Manitoba.
Where do the Territories stand?
The Northwest Territories Employment Standards Act sets no minimum age but restricts hazardous work and night work for anyone 16 or younger, and the Nunavut Labour Standards Act allows employment under 17 in any occupation except those the regulations prescribe.
Reference only — not legal advice
This page states the statutory minimum working age rules from the published employment-standards legislation or the government’s own guide, read on 19 October 2026. It is not legal advice, does not model a collective agreement or an individual contract, and rules change. For a binding answer, contact the employment standards office named in the source or a lawyer.