PayeMesHeures
Illustration: limitation calculator

Can I still claim my wages?

In Canada, how far back you can recover depends on the jurisdiction: 24 months federally (Canada Labour Code, s. 251.1(1.1)), 1 year in Quebec (art. 115 LNT), 2 years in Ontario (Employment Standards Act, s. 111). This tool calculates the cutoff date and the period you can still recover.

Current situation
Have you already filed a complaint / claim?

Select your employment jurisdiction to get your cutoff date. Canada has no single period: the calculation and the legal basis differ depending on whether Quebec, Ontario or the federal regime applies.

How does the time limit work?

Federal: an order can go back up to 24 months before the complaint or the end of employment (s. 251.1(1.1)); the complaint must be filed within 6 months (s. 251.01) with the Labour Program.

Quebec: a claim of ONE YEAR from each due date (art. 115 LNT), the shortest window; claim to the CNESST, otherwise an action before the Tribunal administratif du travail.

Ontario: 2 years before the complaint or the inspection (s. 111 ESA); complaint to the Ministry of Labour, review by the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

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