Alberta Living Wage Network launches
Network of local agencies and municipalities are working to raise awareness about the cost of living in towns and cities in the province
The Alberta Living Wage Network (ALWN or “the Network”) has released new living wages across the province and its new certification program for employers.
The new 2021 living wages are as follows:
Calgary: $18.60
Canmore: $37.40
Chestermere: $18.60
Cochrane: $22.60
Drumheller: $19.70
Edmonton: $18.10
Fort McMurray: $27.35
Lethbridge $19.00
Red Deer $17.15
Rocky Mountain House $18.05
Stony Plain: $17.20
Strathcona County: $16.80
Many businesses have faced unprecedented challenges from the pandemic and related restrictions. The intention of releasing living wages is not to add further stress to these companies, but to shed some light on what it actually costs to live in cities and towns in Alberta.
The living wage is the hourly rate of pay needed for a household to maintain a modest standard of living, once government transfers have been added to the family’s income, and taxes have been subtracted. The 2021 numbers have been calculated using a methodology consistent with the Canadian Living Wage Framework and assumes people are working full-time hours and includes more than the basics of food, clothing and shelter. They also take into account unexpected costs, small investments in education, and childcare.
Quotes:
“As a community, we can only move forward when everyone has a chance to succeed. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted inequality in our society by showing us how low-wage earners experienced the pandemic in a significantly disproportionate way. As we emerge from the pandemic, we must look for ways to help all of our citizens succeed, and ensuring everyone earns a living wage is one way we can do this.”
– Amarjeet Sohi, Mayor of Edmonton
“Living wages support the communities we work. A strong community ensures everyone is living well and means less crime, fewer in poverty, and builds strong families. Higher wages also increase our staff retention, and we have a high correlation between our cleaners staying and our customers staying with us.”
– Yeonsil Kang, COO of Home Spritz
“Today, about 400,000 Albertans live in low income and of those, about 60% are considered the working poor. These Albertans often have to work multiple jobs just to get by. While struggling to support themselves and their families, it becomes difficult to save for the future or to be financially resilient when faced with difficult life events that cause unforeseen expenses. Living wages help lift up these individuals and are a necessary component to resilient cities and the economy.”
– Franco Savoia, Chair, Alberta Living Wage Council.
About the Alberta Living Wage Network
The Alberta Living Wage Network is a network of community organizations and municipalities with the goal of advancing a coordinated living wage movement in Alberta. The network assists communities in their annual living wage calculation and provides certification to qualifying living wage employers. For more information follow @livingwageab on twitter.
Resources
The Alberta Living Wage Network publishes common questions and answers about living wages.
Alberta Living Wage Methodology explains how living wages are calculated in the province.
This Calgary-based living wage employer is working to advance policies that enable sustainable livelihoods. Read Momentum commits to living wages in more than one way.
Learn about how the Alberta government’s recent changes to the Alberta Child Care Subsidy impacted 2021 living wage calculations in New funding allocation for child care is driving down the cost of living in Alberta, but not for everyone
For more information