The answer depends on your province, but here is the short version: in Ontario and several other provinces, you need to be 14 to take on a regular part-time job. Some provinces set the bar at 16. A handful have no blanket minimum but add restrictions on hours and job type until you turn 16 or 18. And certain informal work, like babysitting or mowing lawns for neighbours, has no legal minimum at all.
That is the short answer. Here is the longer one, so you actually know where you stand before you walk into your first job application.
There Is No Single Federal Minimum Age
Canada does not have one national minimum working age that applies everywhere. Employment standards are mostly set by each province, which means where you live determines what you can do and at what age.
Federal labour law exists, but it applies only to a narrow set of industries: banks, airlines, telecom companies, interprovincial transportation. If you are applying at a grocery store, a fast food chain, or a recreation centre, you fall under your province's rules.
So the number you need to know is your province's number.
Ontario: What the Rules Actually Say
Since this site is rooted in Ontario, let's start here.
Under 14: Ontario's Employment Standards Act does not allow you to work in most formal workplaces. You can still do informal work: babysitting, dog walking, yard work, tutoring. Those fall outside the ESA, and money you earn beats money you're given for what it teaches you. But a job with a paycheque and a T4? Not until you are 14.
At 14 and 15: You can apply for most regular jobs. Coffee shops, fast food, retail, grocery stores, recreation centres, summer camps. The province does put guardrails in place:
- You cannot work more than three hours on a school day
- You cannot work past 11 pm
- You cannot work in a factory or manufacturing setting
- You cannot be placed in hazardous conditions
Your employer is responsible for following these rules, not just you. If a job asks you to close at midnight on a Tuesday or puts you somewhere that feels unsafe, that is a problem on their end.
At 16: Most workplace restrictions lift. Longer shifts, more job types, access to settings that were off-limits before. Some employers will still ask for parental consent until you turn 18; the province does not require it, but employers set their own policies.
There is no government-issued work permit in Ontario. Many employers will ask a parent or guardian to sign off before hiring someone under 16, so come ready with your parent on board and it usually goes smoothly.
A Quick Look at Other Provinces
If you are outside Ontario, here is the general picture. Rules change and provinces update them, so always verify at the official source before you apply.
British Columbia: Age 12 for light work with written parental permission. Fewer restrictions at 15. Hazardous work and late-night shifts have stricter age requirements even into your late teens.
Alberta: No blanket minimum age in legislation, but under 16 you need parental consent and there are meaningful restrictions on hours and job type. Under 18, some jobs require additional approvals.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba: Both generally set 16 as the standard minimum for most formal employment. Under 16, opportunities are narrower, though informal work is still open.
Quebec: No blanket minimum, but the rules around school-week hours for younger teens are strict. Recent provincial reforms tightened restrictions significantly. Check the CNESST site for current limits.
Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia and New Brunswick allow work at 14 with restrictions. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland generally point toward 16 for most employment.
The pattern across Canada: 14 to 16 is the working window where things open up, with restrictions on hours and job type that ease gradually as you get older.
What Jobs Will Actually Hire You at 14 and 15
Knowing the legal age is one thing. Knowing who will actually hire you at 14 is a different question.
Fast food and coffee: McDonald's, Tim Hortons, Subway, and similar chains hire at 14 in Ontario and other provinces. Policies vary by location, so call ahead or ask when you drop off a resume. The night shift is usually off the table until you are older.
Grocery stores: Sobeys, Metro, No Frills, Food Basics, and similar chains have entry-level roles like cashier, bagger, and stock. Many hire at 14 or 15 for daytime and early evening shifts.
Recreation centres and camps: Municipal pools, community centres, and summer camps often hire young staff for day camp counselling, front-desk help, or facility work. If you have your Bronze Cross or NLS certification, lifeguarding opens up early and pays well.
Retail: Some clothing stores, bookshops, and small local businesses hire at 15. Chain retailers vary, so check their online applications.
Informal work: Babysitting, lawn care, snow shovelling, dog walking, tutoring younger students. None of these require an employer. You set the rate, you find the clients, you keep what you earn. This is where a lot of people land their first real money before the formal job market opens up.
At 14, you will not be landing a skilled trade apprenticeship or a construction site job. Those come later. But you can absolutely earn real income now, build a work history, and start learning habits that will matter for the next forty years.
A Word on Parental Permission
In most provinces, there is no government work permit form to fill out. But your parents being involved matters in a practical way.
If you are under 16, many employers will want to speak with a parent or have a signature on file before they put you on the schedule. This is especially true for roles involving evening shifts. Employers are covering their bases and making sure a responsible adult is reachable if anything comes up.
Have the conversation at home first. Know what hours your parents are comfortable with, whether they need to approve specific workplaces, and who to contact if something comes up. Walking into an application with that already sorted out makes the whole process faster.
Your One Concrete Next Step
Before you apply anywhere, spend five minutes on your province's official employment standards site and find the section on youth workers or minimum working age.
For Ontario: search "ontario.ca employment standards young workers." The province's own page will tell you the current rules, the hour restrictions by age, and what your employer is and is not allowed to ask of you.
For other provinces: search "[your province] employment standards young workers" and go to the .gov or .ca result. This takes five minutes and means you walk into your first job application with the actual rules in hand.
Know the rules, then go get the job.