🏆 Cheapest vs Most Expensive Provinces
Which Canadian provinces offer the cheapest fishing and which are the most expensive? We rank all 13 by total cost including prerequisites.
Top 5 Cheapest (Residents)
Total cost = annual Sport licence + prerequisite cards (Outdoors Card, WiN Card, etc.).
| # | Province | Licence | Prerequisite | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | British Columbia | — | None | $0.00 |
| #2 | Quebec | — | None | $0.00 |
| #3 | Manitoba | — | None | $0.00 |
| #4 | New Brunswick | — | None | $0.00 |
| #5 | Nova Scotia | — | None | $0.00 |
Top 5 Most Expensive (Residents)
| # | Province | Licence | Prerequisite | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #13 | Ontario | $26.57 | $8.57 | $35.14 |
| #12 | Saskatchewan | — | $20.00 | $20.00 |
| #11 | Alberta | — | $8.00 | $8.00 |
| #10 | Nunavut | — | None | $0.00 |
| #9 | Northwest Territories | — | None | $0.00 |
Complete Ranking — International Non-Residents
If you're visiting Canada from the US or internationally, here's how provinces rank by non-resident annual licence cost:
| # | Province | Non-Resident Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ontario | $83.19 |
Key Takeaways
- PEI is consistently the cheapest — a $10 resident licence with no prerequisites.
- Ontario has the lowest barrier for casual anglers — the Conservation licence ($15.07 + $8.57 Outdoors Card = $23.64 total) is excellent value for catch-and-release fishing.
- Saskatchewan's 2026 increase — the new Angling Habitat Certificate adds $20 on top of existing licence costs.
- For American visitors, the most affordable full-featured option is typically Alberta or Manitoba.
Methodology & Sources
Rankings based on published 2025–2026 provincial licence fees. "Total cost" includes mandatory prerequisite cards. Taxes not included. Prices sourced from each province's official licensing portal as of March 2026.