The Alberta legislature. The province's two largest political parties are commenting on Alberta's minimum wage. (Photo: Pattison Media)

By David Opinko

Alberta NDP calls for minimum wage hike, province to ‘monitor the matter closely’

Oct 2, 2024 | 1:37 PM

Alberta’s two largest political parties are taking different approaches to the minimum wage.

Pattison Media reported this week that Alberta is now tied for having the lowest minimum wage in the country as Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and P.E.I. all raised their wage floors as of October 1, 2024.

READ MORE: Alberta now tied for lowest minimum wage in Canada

The $15/hour minimum in Alberta has not increased over the last six years. At the same time, InflationCalculator.ca shows that inflation in the province has increased by 19.22 per cent between 2018 and 2024.

In a statement from Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Matt Jones, he says that making a large increase to the minimum wage could have negative impacts on the economy.

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“Alberta’s government understands that significant changes to the minimum wage could negatively impact small businesses, youth and Albertans seeking their first job or part time employment. Further, these changes also affect operational costs, which ultimately flow through to all Albertans,” says Jones.

The UCP government commissioned a report that found that, in 2023, the prior increases to the minimum wage in Alberta resulted in a loss of approximately 23,000 jobs between 2015-2018 as companies were faced with higher labour costs.

Jones did not say whether or not the province has had any discussions about potentially adjusting the minimum wage.

He did, however, state that Albertans get to keep more of the money they earn “as our province has the lowest provincial income tax rates, the highest personal income tax exemption levels and no provincial sales tax.”

“Minimum wage is an important issue for our government. We will continue to monitor the matter closely and evaluate the appropriateness of the current calibration to best serve Albertans,” Jones added.

These comments did not sit well with Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi.

He argues that Alberta actually has a lower minimum wage than Saskatchewan. While both provinces share a general minimum wage of $15/hour, Alberta also has the “job creation student wage,” which allows businesses to pay Albertans under the age of 18 $13 per hour, assuming they are working no more than 28 hours per week when school is in session.

“We have gone from being the highest minimum wage in the country to the lowest in a time of an inflation and affordability crisis, making it harder and harder for people to buy groceries, put food on their table, pay their rents, and be able to live in Alberta,” says Nenshi.

Nenshi states that many Albertans who earn minimum wage often have to make “life-and-death” choices about what to purchase or what bills to pay.

He recommends that the province make a single larger increase to the minimum wage and then tie further rate hikes to inflation or some other metric.

The current minimum wages, as of October 1, 2024 and as outlined by the Retail Council of Canada, are as follows:

• Nunavut: $19/hour
• Yukon: $17.59/hour
• B.C.: $17.40/hour
• Ontario: $17.20/hour
• Northwest Territories: $16.70/hour
• P.E.I.: $16/hour
• Manitoba: $15.80/hour
• Quebec: $15.75/hour
• Newfoundland and Labrador: $15.60/hour
• New Brunswick: $15.30/hour
• Nova Scotia: $15.20/hour
• Alberta: $15/hour
• Saskatchewan: $15/hour