If money talks, then Alberta is about to resound with a lot of chatter, starting next month, as the province has decided to hike the minimum wage by 40 cents an hour.

Starting from April 1, the wage goes up to $8.80 per hour from the current $8.40, as much as many of Alberta businesses would have preferred it otherwise during the economic slowdown.

"We want to ensure that Albertans earning the minimum wage are as protected as possible during these changing times," said Hector Goudreau, the minister of employment and immigration.

This hike is expected to affect about 20,000 workers and will also make Alberta's minimum wage rate the highest in the country.