The minimum wage increase is scheduled to take effect in Alberta on October 1, 2015, making one of the lowest minimum wages into one of the highest in a single move. Last Monday an announcement was made by Labour Minister Lori Sigurdson concerning the plan to raise the minimum wage in Alberta over the next four years. Right now the minimum wage in Alberta is $10.20, and incremental increases over the next few years is intended to make the lowest possible wage $15 an hour for anyone working in Alberta. On October 1, 2015 the wage requirement for Alberta will go up by $1, making the minimum $11.20 in a few months. By the end of 2018 the minimum wage per hour for Albertans will be $15.
When the minimum wage increase in Alberta takes effect on October 1, 2015 this will make the region one of those with the highest minimum wage requirements, third behind Ontario and the Northwest Territories. Right now there is a difference in minimum wage for servers and certain other employee classifications, but this differential will also disappear in2016 so that there is one consistent minimum wage across the entire region. On October 1, 2015 servers will see a wage increase of $1.50 to start with, and eventually this will also be raised so that there is a single wage minimum requirement across Alberta. According to Labour Minister Lori Sigurdson “Paying people a decent minimum wage will translate into a better life for low-income workers and, as a result, a better life for their families and for all Albertans.”