Living Wage

The Alberta Living Wage Network calculates the hourly rate of pay an individual needs to earn in order to maintain a modest standard of living once government transfers have been added and taxes have been subtracted. The calculation assumes that each adult works 35 hours per week, and three different household scenarios are considered: a two-parent family with two young children, a single-parent family with one young child, and a single individual. 

The living wage calculation is one of many affordability indicators available to municipalities. Employers, employees, non-profit organizations, and governments of all levels can use this indicator to better understand the different factors that contribute to livability and affordability when making decisions about which programs, services and benefits may have the biggest impact on lowering the living wage. While the living wage indicator identifies an income level that, if earned, ought to allow a household to maintain a modest standard of living within a community, the indicator is made up of assumptions that may or may not apply to a household. For this reason, the living wage is not intended to provide direction on wages.

The 2023 indicator wage (hourly) for Canmore is $38.80.

The indicator wage is a weighted average of three household scenarios: (1) a two parent and two child household, (2) a lone parent, and (3) a single individual.

Each household scenario calculation is a result of totaling all living expenses (food, clothing, shelter, etc.), reducing these expenses by the total government benefits available (childcare subsidy, climate action incentive, Alberta affordability payments, etc.), and adding the total taxes required.

Read the 2023 Alberta Living Wage Network Report

Community affordability is the responsibility of community, business, and all levels of government. 

The Town of Canmore is committed to finding ways to make the community more affordable by supporting community programs, such as Vital Homes, and supporting free local Roam Transit. 

To help tackle affordability, the Town of Canmore is taking bold action to address housing. Learn more about our Housing Action Plan. 

We have also made updates to our Affordable Services Program so that more people are eligible to qualify for supports and services designed to make Canmore a livable community for all. 

Businesses have faced unprecedented challenges over the past several years. 

Wage is only part of the picture when understanding affordability. Maintaining a livable community where all individuals can thrive is the responsibility of community, businesses, and all levels of government. The Living Wage is not a tool designed to direct employee compensation, but rather, it is intended to shed light on how all systems, including employee benefit plans, government tax and benefit initiatives, and community programs can work together to create an affordable community.

Canmore is a municipal member of the Alberta Living Wage Network, and as a member, all Canmore business can work with network staff to quantify the impact that their employee benefit programs, such as employee meals, staff accommodation, health benefits, professional development, childcare support, corporate wellness accounts, or corporate savings plan, have on their employee’s income.

Local businesses are invited to work with the Alberta Living Wage Network to understand how employee benefits programs increase the impact of an employee’s wages. Connect with the Network to learn how to become a living wage employer.

Become a Living Wage Employer  

The Living Wage represents the hourly wage that makes up the income an individual needs to earn in their career to grow, thrive, and actively participate in their community. It provides insight on community affordability and livability.  The Living Wage also provides municipalities with a way to evaluate the impact of community programs, such as Vital Homes or the Good Food Box, on living expenses. 

The Living Wage may also help employers quantify the impact that employee benefit programs, such as employee meals, staff accommodation, health benefits, professional development, childcare support, corporate wellness accounts, or corporate savings plan, have on the calculation of the wage  

The Town of Canmore is founding member of the Alberta Living Wage Network. The web-based calculator that the Network uses to calculate the Living Wage for all Alberta communities was first created and piloted in Canmore.

 

Learn More About Other Alberta Living Wage

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