Minimum Wage Rate

Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 10, 150 days to the day, the Minister of Employment and Immigration sent the chair of the Standing Committee on the Economy his response to the committee’s report on Alberta’s minimum wage policy, just as the standing orders require him to do. In essence, the minister’s response said: thanks for conducting the review I requested; I’ll get back to you soon. Is the minister prepared to announce a new Alberta minimum wage today, and if not, why not?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, Mr. Speaker, in a letter to the chair of the all-party committee I thanked him for the work that he has done with numerous Alberta stakeholders. They have provided me with sound advice, which I am poring through right now. I’m looking at other provinces as a few other provinces right now are announcing changes to their minimum wage. The member will have to be a little bit more patient. I will be announcing new revisions to the minimum wage shortly.

Mr. Taylor: Well, Mr. Speaker, how much longer should Albertans living in poverty have to wait for the minister to read and digest seven recommendations? I mean, really.

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, Albertans living in poverty are well aware of the fact that this ministry happens to also have many programs that help Albertans out of poverty. He will be interested probably in finding out, which is not contained in the report, that the provinces who actually have the highest minimum wage tend to have more individuals reliant on government programs. I will strike a balance. I’m looking at what works and what doesn’t work not only in Canada but throughout the world, and you will get a very comprehensive answer soon.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the minister: is the minister willing to agree today, since wages are – and he pretty much just confirmed that – only one of the issues confounding the poor, to undertake a broad-based consultation that includes the poor with the goal of creating a poverty reduction strategy in this province?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, I am glad to report to you that we have a very comprehensive package for recovery from poverty, and that’s called jobs. This ministry trains individuals towards employment, encourages individuals towards employment, provides assistance for individuals towards employment, and we will continue to maintain that jobs are the best way out of poverty.

Find this exchange at: Minimum Wage Rate in Hansard Record of Alberta Legislature April 13, 2011, starts on page 9 of this document (Hansard page 633).