The Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) estimates two adults with two children have to make $16.31 an hour each for the full year to cover their basic needs.
The ESPC said the living wage is based on the actual cost of living in Edmonton when taking into account government transfers, taxes and deductions.
READ MORE: $17.36 per hour needed to get by in Edmonton, says living wage report
The living wage is $0.38 less than it was in 2016 and $1.05 less than 2015. The ESPC said the reduction from last year was caused by a full year of the Canada Child Benefit and the enhancement of the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit.
“We are therefore not surprised to learn that the living wage reduced again this year,” ESPC executive director Susan Morrissey said. “It shows how important child benefits are for families to sustain a modest standard of living and to provide for themselves in the city of Edmonton.”
However, the council said it doesn’t expect the trend to continue in Alberta’s capital because no substantial additional income transfers for families are expected.
The EPSC said it’s working with the city and other community partners to develop a living wage campaign in Edmonton.
Alberta’s minimum wage is increasing to $15 an hour by 2018.