While several Canadian provinces have increased the minimum wage this year, it remains fixed in Alberta at $15 an hour since October 1, 2018.

Despite strong inflation in prices, the United Conservative Party (UCP) government led by Danielle Smith in Edmonton refuses to consider raising the minimum wage.

In Quebec and British Columbia, the second and third largest provinces in Canada by population, the minimum wage has increased by 7% this year. In Ontario, the largest province, the minimum wage increased by 6.8% effective yesterday, October 1.

The last increase in the minimum wage in Alberta was under the New Democratic Party (left-leaning) government led by Rachel Notley, which gradually raised it from $10.2 an hour to $15 an hour on October 1, 2018, making it the highest in Canada.

However, this rapid increase of 47% over three years has been criticized by the United Conservative Party, which decided, since coming to power under Jason Kenney in 2019, to freeze the minimum wage.

According to Andrea Smith, spokesperson for the Minister of Labour, Economy, and Trade in Alberta, the Danielle Smith government has no "immediate plans" to change the current minimum wage.

"Maintaining the current rate gives employers and employees the ability to anticipate and stability during a period of economic growth and labor shortage," Andrea Smith wrote in an email.

This justification has sparked outrage from the president of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), Gil McGowan.

"Stability and predictability for whom? (the government) doesn’t care about the stability of workers. The only thing that can be anticipated is that Alberta residents will face more and more difficulties in paying their bills," McGowan said.

It is noted that the inflation rate in Alberta reached 4.3% last August, compared to 4% across Canada as a whole.