Albertans now have the lowest minimum wage in Canada as other provinces' wages keep going up
Four provincial minimum wage rates went up as of today.
As of October 1, four provinces' minimum wages are increasing, but not Alberta. Alberta's minimum wage is tied for the lowest in the country, with Saskatchewan, and hasn't seen an increase since 2018.
Ontario, Saskatchewan, P.E.I and Manitoba are all getting minimum wage increases as of Tuesday. Saskatchewan's increase will bring it up to Alberta's $15.00, making the provinces tied for having the lowest minimum wage in Canada.
According to the Alberta government website, the last time the province's minimum wage increased was in 2018. "Alberta’s minimum wage increased every year from 2015 to 2018, becoming the highest in the country when it reached $15/hour in October 2018," the website says.
Since then though it has stayed stagnant, now sitting at the lowest in the country.
Other provinces are still increasing though. Ontario's minimum wage rate is increasing from $16.55 to $17.20, P.EI.'s is increasing from $15.40 to $16.00, and Manitoba's is increasing from $15.30 to $15.80.
Saskatchewan alone previously had the lowest minimum wage, at $14.00, until this increase, now making it tied for lowest with Alberta.
The highest minimum wage of al the proviences is British Columbia, which is $17.40 as of June 1, 2024. In all of Canada the highest is the Nunavut, which is at $19.00 as of Janurary 1, 2024.
The federal minimum wage rate is $17.30 and was updated in April 2024.