Alberta’s minimum wage will increase from $10.20 to $11.20 on October 1st, 2015. The minimum wage in Alberta is currently the lowest in Canada, but will become the second highest once the one dollar increase is in effect. This increase is part of the Alberta NDP government’s plan of bringing minimum wage to $15 by 2018, which would become the highest in Canada.
The change in wages will also affect liquor servers. In Alberta and several other provinces, liquor servers are paid less than the minimum wage as it is assumed that they will receive tips. In October, liquor servers will receive an increase of $1.50 per hour. In 2016, they are expected to receive the same wage as other minimum wage earners.
Plans for the next minimum wage increase have not been revealed.
