Alberta Party Leader Calls On Alberta Government To Freeze Minimum Wage

On September 26, Greg Clark, leader of the Alberta party and MLA for Calgary Elbow, issued a release saying that the NDP should pause minimum wage at $13.60 while they study the effects of higher minimum wages and create a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy. Mr. Clark mentioned the recent CD Howe minimum wage report by University of Alberta Economist Dr. Joseph Marchand that Alberta’s $15 minimum wage study could cost as many as 25,000 Alberta jobs and concluded what many academics have pointed out – that minimum wage is a poor poverty reduction strategy. Restaurants Canada informed Mr. Clark that our Alberta members support his call for the Alberta government to freeze minimum wage at $13.60 to study the impact the government’s aggressive minimum wage policy is having on employment and small businesses.