It is official, the Alberta Government has passed legislature to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2018.

Airdronians currently working in minimum wage positions will see a $1.00 per hour increase starting October 1, bringing the working wage up to $12.20.

In October 2017, an additional $1.40 will be added, and finally in October 2018, the last $1.40 increase will take place, making Alberta the highest paying minimum wage province.

"All hard working Albertan's deserve to make enough to support themselves and their families." said Labour Minister Christina Gray.

Gray said that the wages for servers, bartenders and others whose main job is to dispense liquor will now be even with the current minimum wage by abolishing the liquor server differential.

Over 300,000 Alberta's are currently earning less than $15 an hour, with two-thirds of whom are women.

"Right now we have too many people going to work everyday and are not able to make ends meet, and so our government feels that this is the best policy to make sure that 300,000 Albertan's who are working for $15 or less are able to take care of their families."