Alberta used to have the highest minimum wage in the country. Now it's the second lowest

When Alberta hiked the province's minimum wage to $15 an hour in the fall of 2018, it was the highest rate in the country.

But nearly six years and a pandemic later, the minimum wage hasn't budged — even as Albertans face the highest inflation rate in Canada.

Most provinces and territories are increasing their minimum wage this year, and those that aren't just raised theirs in 2023.

That means one of Canada's wealthiest provinces is falling behind. Alberta now has the second-lowest minimum wage in the country. Saskatchewan remains at the bottom, at $14 an hour.

Meaghon Reid, executive director of poverty reduction organization Vibrant Communities Calgary, said it's a far cry from Calgary's living wage, which sits at $23.70 and is calculated by the Alberta Living Wage Network.

"Every year that we don't raise the minimum wage, the situation is getting more dire for people who are on that number," Reid said. 

"We know that because people who are making minimum wage aren't able to make ends meet, they're having to make trade-offs in terms of things like medication and food particularly. That's what we're hearing the most."

Reid said she's been watching how other provinces have adjusted their wages to keep pace with the rising cost of living.

For example, Ontario's minimum wage is adjusting to inflation to $17.20 in October, while British Columbia's is increasing to $17.40 in June based on the consumer price index. The federal minimum wage rose to $17.30 on April 1.

Other provinces aren't being hit as hard by rising costs. Alberta's inflation rate rose to 4.2 per cent in February — higher than the national average at 2.8 per cent.

It has advocates and Alberta's lowest income earners wondering why the Alberta government isn't doing more to help during these unprecedented times, when other provinces are.

University of Calgary student Cliodhna Britner is one of the 126,000 Albertans making minimum wage. While she tries to pick up as many hours as she can as a hostess, she said $15 an hour only goes so far.

"I literally can't afford to go out or treat myself. So it does take a hit mentally," said Britner, 19.

She said her future feels bleak, and she doesn't know how she'll ever be able to afford her own home.