Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is defending her province’s minimum wage as it is once again set to become the lowest in Canada. Minimum wage hikes will kick in Wednesday in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, leaving Alberta the lowest at $15 an hour. Alberta’s current rate of $15 an hour was set in 2018 by then-premier Rachel Notley’s NDP government, making it, at the time, the highest minimum wage in Canada. A separate minimum wage for students under 18 in Alberta has been set at $13 an hour since 2019. As of Wednesday, Ontario’s minimum wage will be $17.60 per hour, Prince Edward Island’s is $16.50 an hour, Nova Scotia’s is $16.50 per hour, Manitoba’s is $16 per hour and Saskatchewan’s is $15.35 an hour.