Alberta continues to have the lowest minimum wage in Canada, at $15 an hour, as other provinces and territories raise their rates to keep up with the rising cost of living.
All provinces and territories except Alberta are increasing their minimum wages this year. Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have raised their rates by between 24 and 40 cents.
Alberta had the highest minimum wage in Canada when it raised its rate to $15 an hour in 2018. It has remained unchanged for eight years. Nunavut now has the highest rate at $20.17 an hour.
The Alberta government says it wants to support wage growth without putting added pressure on small businesses facing economic uncertainty.
About five per cent of Alberta workers earn minimum wage, slightly above the national average. Advocates say rising costs are also putting pressure on people who earn more.
Michelle James of Vibrant Communities Calgary said inflation means a person would need to earn about $19 an hour to afford the same basic goods that $15 an hour covered in 2018.
The Calgary Food Bank has also seen demand nearly triple in recent years. Melissa From said people earning between $15 and $20 an hour are among those seeking help, including some with full-time jobs.
Students say family support is often needed to afford post-secondary education while working low-wage jobs.
The financial pressure is not limited to young workers. Daniel Reh, a Mount Royal University student, said some people he worked with had lost jobs in engineering and technology and turned to lower-paying work to get by.
About 43 per cent of Alberta’s minimum wage earners are over the age of 24, James said.
Vibrant Communities Calgary is calling for a higher minimum wage, saying better wages could help people avoid poverty and reduce pressure on public services.
The group estimated that a person needed to earn more than $26 an hour to maintain a modest standard of living in Calgary in 2025. An updated figure is expected in November.
