[Canada] Alberta’s minimum wage stays frozen as pay in other provinces climbs

Alberta drew Canada’s attention in 2018 when it lifted its minimum wage to $15 from $12.20 within two years. The move was praised by labour representatives and criticised by business groups as Alberta’s pay outpaced other provinces. On October 1 it was revealed to have plummeted to last place in wage rankings after four provinces increased their rates for the second time in two years, while Alberta’s remained frozen, Calgary Herald reports.

Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba raised their minimum wages to $17.20, $16 and $15.80, respectively. Saskatchewan’s rate also climbed by a dollar, bringing the province at par with Alberta, whose rate has been unchanged over the six years since its attention-grabbing bump.

This marked contrast has reportedly led labour representatives to call for a wage hike reminiscent of 2018 as people in the province battle soaring housing costs and the aftermath of record-high inflation; reaching 8.1 per cent at one point in 2022.

“A wage freeze is a cut,” Gil McGowan - president of the Alberta Federation of Labour - said in a statement responding to news of the loss of ground.

“If the Alberta minimum wage had kept pace with inflation over the past six years, it would be $19 per hour today, but, given the high cost of living in Alberta, even that would not be enough.”

Source: Calgary Herald

(Links and quote via original reporting)

Alberta drew Canada’s attention in 2018 when it lifted its minimum wage to $15 from $12.20 within two years. The move was praised by labour representatives and criticised by business groups as Alberta’s pay outpaced other provinces. On October 1 it was revealed to have plummeted to last place in wage rankings after four provinces increased their rates for the second time in two years, while Alberta’s remained frozen, Calgary Herald reports.

Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba raised their minimum wages to $17.20, $16 and $15.80, respectively. Saskatchewan’s rate also climbed by a dollar, bringing the province at par with Alberta, whose rate has been unchanged over the six years since its attention-grabbing bump.

This marked contrast has reportedly led labour representatives to call for a wage hike reminiscent of 2018 as people in the province battle soaring housing costs and the aftermath of record-high inflation; reaching 8.1 per cent at one point in 2022.

“A wage freeze is a cut,” Gil McGowan - president of the Alberta Federation of Labour - said in a statement responding to news of the loss of ground.

“If the Alberta minimum wage had kept pace with inflation over the past six years, it would be $19 per hour today, but, given the high cost of living in Alberta, even that would not be enough.”

Source: Calgary Herald

(Links and quote via original reporting)