Are Unpaid Internships Legal In Canada?

In almost all cases, except where a person is genuinely a student, unpaid "internships" will be against the law.

Unpaid interns often do the work of employees and are subject to a great deal of control and direction by their employers. Just because an intern agrees that he or she will not be paid does not mean that the employer is complying with their provincial employment standards. Any such clause in an oral or written contract is null and void if it contravenes the respective law.

Employers should be aware that courts and provincial authorities will apply employment standards provisions broadly based on the common law test for an employee, which will catch many interns. If an intern is not specifically exempted, they should be paid at least minimum wage.