Alberta’s minimum wage is on the rise.
On Monday, June 29, the Alberta NDP government announced that minimum wage would increase one dollar.
The increase, from $10.20 per hour to $11.20 per hour will take effect on October 1. The NDP government also announced that liquor server minimum wage would increase from $9.20 to $10.70 and that the government will eliminate the differential rate altogether in 2016.
“Alberta’s minimum wage is currently the lowest in the country, yet we have one of the highest costs of living,” Premier Rachel Notley said in a press release from Monday. “We promised Albertans we would raise minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2018, and we will stick to that promise. We’re taking a significant step towards our goal for 2015 and will continue this path in future years.”
The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heather Bitz said the changes have been on the radar at the Chamber.
“We are certainly concerned about the impact on the business community, especially for small businesses, which account for a majority of business in Alberta,” she told inSide Drumheller.
“We expect to see the business community respond to the minimum wage increase in a variety of ways, such as increased costs to goods and services, reductions in hours of operation, decreases in staff levels, reductions in employee benefits or at worst, business closures. Overall the minimum wage increase will apply increased pressure across all wage levels,” she said.
Once the change comes into effect, Alberta will go from 10th to the third highest in minimum wages in Canada.
The Northwest Territories is the highest at $12.50 per hour with Ontario being second that will be at $11.25 per hour in October.
