Saskatchewan minimum wage to increase, Alberta NDP promise to raise minimum wage if elected

Jun 29, 2026 | 12:47 PM

Alberta’s Opposition New Democrats are promising to raise the province’s minimum wage, protect tips earned by service workers, and eliminate the lower minimum wage for workers under 18 if elected.

The party says it would raise the minimum wage by one dollar a year over three years, bringing it to 18 dollars an hour, then tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index.

It also pledges to introduce legislation preventing employers from withholding or redistributing employee tips.

“We’re just days from the start of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, and the people who work hard to make it happen deserve a government that cares about protecting the wages that help them pay bills and buy groceries,” Leader of the Alberta NDP Naheed Nenshi said in a statement tied to the Calgary Stampede.

“Albertans deserve good wages and tips that can’t be stolen by their employer – protections that an Alberta NDP will implement after years of a UCP-led race to the bottom, hurting workers across the province.”

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The NDP says Alberta’s minimum wage has remained at 15 dollars an hour since 2018 and is now the lowest in Canada.

The announcement comes as Saskatchewan says its minimum wage will increase to $15.70 an hour on Oct. 1 under its annual indexation formula, which gives equal weight to changes in the Consumer Price Index and Saskatchewan’s average hourly wage.

“To keep Saskatchewan’s economy strong, we have tried to balance the need for an increase to the minimum wage with ensuring employers are able to continue to build strong businesses and opportunity for growth,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said in a statement.

“Our low personal tax rates also continue to make our province a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

by Jesse Gill

Saskatchewan minimum wage to increase, Alberta NDP promise to raise minimum wage if elected

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