Minimum Wage

Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past two years Al- berta’s minimum wage of $8.80 a hour, the second-lowest in the country, has been deliberately frozen by Canada’s wealthiest pro- vincial government. Over 60 per cent of minimum wage earners are women while the remainder consists to a significant degree of seniors on fixed incomes and students helping support their fami- lies or saving for postsecondary. To the minister of employment: despite the Committee on the Economy’s unanimous recommen- dation last October to raise the wage a measly 25 cents, why have you failed to act?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, Mr. Speaker, first of all, to correct the member, the minimum wage is not paid by this wealthy provincial government. Wages are paid by employers and businesses and those who create jobs in Alberta. I don’t believe there is any posi- tion within the government of Alberta that’s anywhere near the minimum wage.
However, Mr. Speaker, there was an all-party committee that met and discussed what the minimum wage in Alberta should look like. They just very recently, a few days ago, reported it to my office. I’m reviewing the recommendations, and a decision will be made in due course.

Mr. Chase: Very recently. October, November, December, Janu- ary, February, March: half a year, Mr. Speaker.  Given that according to a Stats Canada figure 78,000 Alberta children are living below the poverty line within primarily single- mother-supported families, how can the minister continue to fail vulnerable families?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, the report that was provided to me by the all-party committee gives some very good recommenda- tions, and I want to thank all members of the committee. We will be making a decision on the minimum wage in due course. Let’s not forget that minimum wage is earned by a very small portion of Albertans, and those who truly are vulnerable in our province have a whole array of social assistance types of benefits offered to them by this very ministry.
The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How long is this minister willing to sit on his ass-umption that market recovery is just around the corner?
The Speaker: The hon. minister. Just before you do, I’m sure I’m going to get 25 more phone calls today telling me I should really, really discipline whoever speaks with such foul language in this Assembly.  The hon. minister. [interjections] The hon. minister. Fine.

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker …

The Speaker: Sorry. I called on you three times, so now we’re going on to the hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Glenmore.

Read more about this exchange: Minimum Wage in Hansard Record of Alberta Legislature March 16, 2011, starts on page 12.