Alberta MLAs on Monday will vote on an NDP-sponsored bill that would legislate an increase to the province’s minimum wage.
Bill 201, the Protect Workers’ Pay Act, would raise Alberta’s minimum wage, get rid of the youth minimum wage differential, and protect tips for service workers.
The Opposition NDP is calling for support from the UCP government.
“This should be an easy vote. Saying yes to Bill 201 means standing with workers and improving wages and affordability of everyday things,” said NDP leader Naheed Nenshi. “On Monday, the UCP will decide whether this bill passes and whether workers get the fairness they deserve.”
The Protect Workers’ Pay Act would raise minimum wage in the province by $1 per year for the next three years starting in December, reaching $18 an hour by October 2027.
It would also index the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) so wages can keep pace with the cost of living, and eliminate lower pay for youth workers so employees under 18 would get paid the same as other workers.
Lastly, it would introduce tip-protection measure to ensure gratuities go directly to workers who earn them and prevent tip skimming.
Minimum wage in Alberta has been $15 an hour since 2018. Young workers can be paid just $13 an hour under legislation that only exists in Alberta and Ontario.
Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration press secretary, Hunter Baril, says an increase to minimum wage would put businesses at risk and further contribute to an already high youth unemployment rate.
“The fact is, the NDP’s past increases to minimum wage cost more than 21,000 jobs for Alberta’s youth,” he said in a statement to 660 NewsRadio. “In an already high-pressure entry level job market stemming from out-of-control immigration and population growth, the last thing we want to do is make that worse by threatening the jobs of our youth through un-consulted increases to minimum wage.”
The NDP says there is no correlation between youth unemployment and minimum wage given that a lower youth rate implemented years ago hasn’t been successful in boosting youth hires.