Adequate employment is central to reducing poverty. Workforce policies in Calgary need to ensure families and individuals receive living wages and that people have opportunities to develop and refresh their skills through continuing education.
Income from employment that is sufficient to cover the cost of living in a given region is not only vital to reducing poverty but is a necessary component to a resilient city and economy. People need more than the bare minimum, this includes enough income to cover bank fees, education and training, internet costs, and the ability to save for an unexpected event. Other principles identified by Living Wage Canada include a wage that enables working families to have sufficient income to cover reasonable costs, promote social inclusion, and support healthy child development.
The 2023 living wage is $23.70 per hour. Learn more about living wages and how the 2023 rate was calculated.
Minimum wages are legislated by the provincial government and are set so that no employer may pay below the legal minimum. It currently sits at $15 per hour for most employees and $13 per hour for people under the age of 18 and hasn’t gone up since 2018. Alberta is the only province that didn’t increase its minimum wage in 2022, and is one of four provinces that doesn’t periodically adjust minimum wage based on the cost of living.
About 200,000 Albertans are on minimum wage in our province and in Calgary, the living wage is almost 50% higher than the minimum wage.
VCC is a member of the Alberta Living Wage Network which is made up 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.
Each lever of change links to one or more of the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Employment links to #2 and #7.
The cost of living, particularly housing, continues to drive the living wage up
Basic living shouldn't be a luxury
Every year Enough for All is evaluated by an independent third-party. The evaluation captures our community's progress towards achieving systems change priorities. The evaluation also provides direction to Vibrant Communities Calgary on its role in successfully advancing the Enough for All Strategy.
Our collective progress towards achieving Enough for All
Taking Decisive Action
2020 Evaluation Report highlights progress in poverty reduction
Evaluating our collective progress towards achieving Enough for All in 2020
Africa Centre
Alberta Living Wage Network
Be Local
Calgary Immigrant Women's Association
Calgary John Howard Society
Calgary Public Library
Canada Bridges
Canadian Poverty Institute
Centre for Newcomers
Cerebral Palsy Alberta
Community Development Learning Initiative
Disability Action Hall
Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary
Home Spritz
Momentum
Rise Calgary
Social Policy Collaborative
The Alex
The School of Public Policy
Trellis Society
Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth
Women in Need Society
YWCA Calgary
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A rising tide lifts all boats, the need for gender inclusivity at work
VCC discusses minimum and living wages with CTV News Calgary
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