Right now, 226 of 718 Canadian emergency departments are reporting live, and the median ER wait across those posting a time is 2h 54m. The shortest is 14 min at Providence Health Care - Mount Saint Joseph Hospital; the longest is 12h at St. Boniface Hospital (Winnipeg). Provinces measure waits differently, so compare them fairly on the report card.
Find the fastest ER near you → See the state of ER waits in Canada
National median wait by hour of day, built from our own archive of every reading. Waits usually run lightest around 9am and heaviest late at night.
The hour each province's ERs are typically calmest and busiest, from our archive. This is for routine visits; in an emergency, go to the nearest ER no matter the time.
| Province | Usually calmest | Usually busiest |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 5am | 9pm |
| British Columbia | 8am | 11pm |
| Manitoba | 5am | 10pm |
| New Brunswick | 7am | 12am |
| Nova Scotia | 5am | 7pm |
| Ontario | 10am | 2am |
| Prince Edward Island | 9am | 5am |
How much each province publishes about its ERs, and how fresh it is. Open a province for the full breakdown.
“ER wait time” means different things across Canada. Ontario, Alberta and BC post the wait to be seen; Quebec posts stretcher occupancy; New Brunswick posts total length of stay. ER Compass labels every number with its source and what it measures, and keeps the full open archive.