A report from community initiative End Poverty Edmonton (EPE) has found the city’s living wage has increased to $22.65 per hour, prompting calls to the Alberta government to raise the provincial minimum wage. Alberta’s minimum wage currently sits at $15 an hour, the lowest in the country. “Edmonton gets called one of the most affordable cities in Canada because we’re getting compared with Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto,” said Hannah Hemphill, EPE’s think tank lead. “Our rent is lower, but we still are paying the same and sometimes more for insurance, food, clothing.” A living wage is calculated by what a full-time working adult needs to earn to cover things like rent, food, child care, transportation, and still take part in community life modestly. EPE has calculated that those working full time and earning $15 an hour are missing out on $268 a week compared to if they were making a living wage. The province said that more than 95 per cent of workers in Alberta earn more than a living wage, with average weekly earnings being the highest across all provinces. “Increases to minimum wage limits businesses’ ability to create jobs for Albertans – and we see young Albertans suffer the most,” said a statement from the ministry of affordability and utilities. “The last time the minimum wage increased, 21,000 Albertans lost their jobs, and 55 per cent of businesses stopped hiring.” Youth workforce participation was cut in half, said the province. EPE will be holding an event with city councillors, MLAs and community members called “The Future That We Can Afford,” where they will discuss how to make things more affordable for Edmontonians, whether that be through policy or mobilization. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson
