Federally regulated employers should take a proactive approach and identify any differentiations in compensation practices before new wage rules come into effect this October, says Michelle McKinnon, a partner in the employment and labour group at Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP.

Starting Oct. 20, 2026, new ‘equal treatment’ wage rules under the Canada Labour Code will require equal pay for employees who perform the same type of work — regardless of their employment status as full time, part time, permanent or temporary. These rules will apply to federally regulated employers in sectors like banking, telecommunications and transportation.

Read: Expert panel: How employers can rethink pay-for-performance in a volatile economy

“These new rules apply when we’re looking at employees with different employment statuses . . . and employees who are paid the same........

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