Your gross pay and what lands in your account are different numbers, and the gap surprises every first-time worker in Canada. Here is what each line on your stub means.
The standard deductions
- Income tax — federal and provincial, withheld each pay based on your TD1 forms.
- CPP (Canada Pension Plan) — your contribution toward retirement benefits; your employer matches it.
- EI (Employment Insurance) — funds benefits if you are later out of work; also employer-matched.
Vacation pay
In Ontario you earn at least 4% vacation pay. For assignment workers it is commonly paid out on each cheque — look for it as a separate line. It is part of your compensation, not a bonus.
Overtime and holidays
Overtime in Ontario is 1.5x after 44 hours in a week. Public holidays come with holiday pay rules even for temporary workers. If a stub does not match the hours you worked, raise it immediately — with us, that is one call to your recruiter.
Keep your documents
Save every stub, and expect a T4 each February for filing taxes. Filing matters even at modest income: refunds, GST/HST credits, and benefit eligibility all flow from it.