The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce has launched a new survey on the minimum wage. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge Chamber launches survey on minimum wage

Nov 21, 2025 | 9:21 AM

Business owners in Lethbridge are asked to give their input on the current state of wages.

The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce has created a short questionnaire on Alberta’s minimum wage, which it says has returned as a topic of discussion among businesses and government.

The seven-question survey asks companies if they have full-time employees who earn the minimum wage of $15 per hour, and whether an increase to the minimum wage would prompt them to proportionately raise pay levels for those who earn above the wage floor.

According to the Chamber, the survey is in response to a motion from the Alberta NDP earlier this month to increase the minimum wage to $18 per hour by October 2027, and then index it to the Consumer Price Index.

The motion was voted down by the majority UCP government, meaning that it will stay at $15 per hour. Workers under the age of 18 can be paid $13 per hour.

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READ MORE: UCP vote down NDP’s proposed minimum wage hike

Back in September, the province told LNN in a statement that Alberta remains one of the most affordable provinces in the country, despite it now having the lowest minimum wage.

“The fact is, Alberta remains one of the most affordable places to call home with lower cost of living, more affordable housing options, along with lower taxes that keep more money in the pockets of Albertans,” reads a statement from Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration. “When it comes to minimum wage, we are balancing workforce needs while also ensuring businesses are not forced to raise costs or be unable to pay their employees, putting entry-level jobs at risk.”

NDP MLA Kathleen Ganley responded that the UCP is ignoring the impact of the affordability crisis it created, and that their proposal to increase the minimum wage offers a “balanced approach” to support workers without placing too much strain on businesses.

READ MORE: Five Canadian provinces boost their minimum wage, Alberta now lowest

The survey from the Chamber also asks how many employees businesses have who earn a “living wage.”

The Alberta Living Wage Network said earlier this month that the amount of money people need to earn to cover their basic expenses and participate in their community went up in 15 of the 21 communities they looked at.

For Lethbridge, the living wage rose by 11.5 per cent over the last year to $22.30 per hour.

You can find the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce’s survey here.

READ MORE: Lethbridge’s ‘living wage’ is $22.30/hr, up 11.5%