Date-reviewed termination payroll guide
Final Pay Deadlines by Province and Territory
Compare selected current final-pay deadlines and use the official Canada-wide directory to verify every other jurisdiction before processing payroll.
Key point
Final earnings can include wages, overtime, vacation pay, holiday pay and termination pay. The due date is not one national rule and may depend on who ended employment or when the pay period ends.
- BC: generally within 48 hours after employer termination or 6 days after the employee quits.
- Alberta: employer chooses 10 calendar days after the pay period ends or 31 calendar days after the last day.
- Ontario: generally the later of 7 days after employment ends and the next regular payday.
- Federal vacation pay owed at termination must be paid within 30 days after the last day.
Selected verified deadlines
| Jurisdiction | General deadline snapshot |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | 48 hours after employer termination; 6 days after employee termination |
| Alberta | 10 calendar days after the pay period ends, or 31 calendar days after the last day, at the employer’s choice |
| Ontario | Later of 7 days after employment ends and the next regular payday |
| Quebec | Wages at regular pay; other amounts by the next pay, maximum 2 weeks |
| Federal | Regular payday for wages; vacation pay owed at end within 30 days |
This selected table covers the jurisdictions currently supported by WageWise tools plus Quebec. Verify the official source on the processing date.
All provinces and territories
For Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, open the Government of Canada employment-standards contact directory and confirm the current wage-payment section directly. Do not infer a deadline from another province.
Final-pay checklist
- Identify who ended employment and the legal last day.
- Close time, overtime, holiday and vacation records.
- Calculate notice or termination pay separately.
- Set the earliest applicable due date and document the source.
- Issue the wage statement and Record of Employment where required.
Related WageWise resources
Official sources
- BC: Final wages
- Alberta: Termination and lay-off
- Ontario: Payment of wages
- Quebec: End-of-employment payment deadline
- Government of Canada: Provincial and territorial contacts
Rules can change and special occupations, agreements or facts can alter the result. Confirm the current official rule for the jurisdiction where the work is performed.