The Government of Alberta is continuing its march to a $15 minimum wage by 2018 with another significant 2017 minimum wage increase. Effective October 1, Alberta’s general minimum wage will increase $1.40 from $12.20 to $13.60.
The large 2017 increase follows a $1 general minimum wage increase and $1.50 increase for liquor servers in 2016 as the liquor server wage was eliminated. The large 2017 increase is proceeding despite Restaurants Canada pointing out to the Alberta Minister of Labour that the significant 2016 minimum wage increases in the midst of a recession resulted in a 3.8% decline in Alberta foodservice employment causing 4,700 industry employees to lose their jobs in 2016 alone.