Dear Minister Lukaszuk,

I am writing to express my concern over your response to Mr. Chase’s recent questions regarding Alberta’s low minimum wage. I am, frankly, embarrassed to reside in a province that continues to require so little of employers. Every Albertan deserves to earn a fair wage on which they can support themselves. It should go without saying that a full time worker should not have to turn to social assistance to supplement an inadequate wage. I strongly support our public and privately funded network of social services, but as a taxpayer, I do not wish to see my tax dollars subsidize employers who refuse to pay a living wage. Simply put, a business that cannot afford to pay a living wage to each and every employee, does not deserve to stay in business! If the Government wishes to continue this subsidization of low wage employers, then it should be renamed and legislated as such; I suspect most Alberta taxpayers would be as alarmed as I am to see their hard-earned tax dollars used in this way. Please act to raise Alberta’s minimum wage to a living wage of $12.25. Viable businesses will not suffer, low wage workers will benefit, and the pressure on social services will be reduced.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Ramona Johnston

Resident of Calgary Mountain View Constituency