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With federal minimum wage rising, will Alberta follow? Nope

VCC discusses minimum and living wages with CTV News Calgary

21 March 2024

The federal minimum wage is increasing and soon Alberta's $15 per hour minimum wage is going to be one of the lowest in the country. Meaghon Reid, executive director of Vibrant Communities Calgary, discussed the minimum wage with CTV News Calgary, saying 85% of people on minimum wage in Calgary are adults, with 38% having kids under the age of 18.

“So the people making minimum wage, we're talking about families, people who are striving to own a home or home owners,” she said.

Reid adds that for someone to consider earning a modest wage in Calgary and not stress paying the bills, they must make at least $23.70 per hour as a living wage.

Stacked coins increasing with chalk drawn icons in the background for housing, savings, education and groceries.

Calgary's hourly living wage is $23.70

A living wage reflects what people need to earn to maintain a modest standard of living based on the actual costs of living in a specific community. It is determined by calculating average expenses using local costs, subtracting taxes, and adding government transfers for a given household. A living wage considers basic needs and also allows for extra costs like pursuing continuing education, having emergency savings and building financial assets.

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