The minimum wage in Alberta will soon be the lowest in Canada
Alberta’s minimum wage has been among the lowest in Canada for some time, but it will soon officially take the bottom spot.
Effective Oct. 1, 2025, Saskatchewan plans to raise its minimum wage to $15.35 per hour, leaving Alberta at $15 per hour, which will be the lowest in the country.
Alberta’s general minimum wage has not seen an increase since 2018, when it was set at $15 per hour. The last adjustment came in June 2019, when it was lowered to $13 per hour for students under the age of 18. Since then, no further changes or increases have been scheduled.
Saskatchewan previously raised its minimum wage from $13 per hour to $15 in October 2024, tying Alberta as the province with the lowest wage in the country.
Out of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, Alberta is the only jurisdiction that has not increased its minimum wage since 2018, or announced plans to do so in 2025.
Retail Council of Canada
Across the country, minimum wages are higher, and several are scheduled to increase this year. British Columbia will remain the highest provincial minimum wage at $17.85 per hour, which was put into place in June 2025. Ontario, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia will also see increases this October, with Ontario raising its minimum wage to $17.60 per hour, Manitoba to $16 per hour, and Nova Scotia to $16.50.
Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and New Brunswick also have minimum wages above Alberta’s, ranging from $15.65 to $16.50 per hour.
Among the three territories, Yukon sits at $17.94, the Northwest Territories at $16.95, and Nunavut is leading the country at $19.75 per hour.
With no scheduled increases and other provinces and territories raising their rates, Alberta will be the lowest-paying jurisdiction in Canada by October.