Alberta has one of the lowest minimum wage in the country

When Alberta introduced a $15 minimum wage six years ago, it was the highest in Canada. But starting October 1, the province has the lowest in the country.

Starting in October, four provinces raised their minimum wage. Manitoba, P.E.I., and Ontario are now over 15 dollars an hour, with Saskatchewan meeting Alberta for the lowest minimum wage in the country.

Alberta hasn’t raised their minimum wage since 2018, and for one worker, it is no longer feasible. 

“Working one minimum wage job is not enough,” said Jannah Jumamil.

Jumamil is currently working two jobs, and while she lives and pays for herself, she is more worried about other minimum-wage workers who need to take care of others.

“Other minimum wage workers who have a family, who are feeding, two people in the family, it is gonna be difficult for them,” said Jumamil.

Labour leaders are once again calling for Alberta to increase wages.

“The majority of the minimum wage workers are actually adults not at school, often taking care of families, it’s clear that it is not a living wage … a living wage is something closer to $21 – $22 an hour,” said Gill McGowan, the president of the Alberta Federation of Labour.

However, one economics professor, said that back in 2015, groups like the Alberta Federation of Labour pushed for a rapid increase in our minimum wage.

“We used to back in 2014, have a formulaic minimum wage that rose with prices and rose with earnings, and it was the Alberta NDP coming in in 2015 that then pushed for $15 minimum wage, so 47 per cent increase over three years and got rid of the formula,” said Joseph Marchand, an economics professor at the University of Alberta.

Arguing, other provinces are now catching up, with Alberta being an early adopter of the $15 minimum wage.

In a statement to CityNews, Alberta’s minister of jobs economy and trade saying they “We will continue to monitor the matter closely and evaluate the appropriateness of the current calibration to best serve Albertans.”

Until then, workers like Jannah are left budgeting their day-to-day.

“If the time allows it, I advised to get a second job. If the time does not allow it, I do recommend cutting down costs,” said Jannah.