The April 1 increase in the minimum wage to $8.40 per hour should not have caught anyone by surprise. 

 Tying the minimum wage to changes in the average provincial wage – and adjusting it annually - was announced last summer by the Stelmach government.  Since average wages went up five per cent in 2007, the minimum wage is going up by the same percentage.

Many groups and individuals – including the Council - concerned about reducing poverty among low income working families have been urging the government to inflation proof the minimum wage.  After all, provincial MLAs have linked their annual salaries to the average earnings of Albertans for the past ten years.  If MLAs don’t have to worry about losing ground to inflation, why should the lowest paid workers in the province? 

So while the government’s decision is commendable and long overdue, $8.40 per hour is still a poverty wage.   The minimum wage would need to be at least $10.00 before a single person working full-time all year would make enough to be above the poverty line, as measured by Statistics Canada’s low income cut-off.  If the minimum wage earner was the primary breadwinner for their family, they would be mired even deeper in poverty. 

Adjusting the minimum wage to match increases in average wages is a forward step.  Ensuring that no full-time minimum wage earner lives in poverty would be even better.

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socigirl - Labour Leaders Agree   | Registered | 2008-03-19 08:52:35 Labour leaders agree that the increase is a step forward, but falls short. An excerpt from the Edmonton Sun: Quote: Alberta's higher minimum wage set to kick in April 1 is progress but condemns the lowest earners to continued poverty, a union leader said yesterday. Premier Ed Stelmach hailed the increase of the bottom wage to $8.40 from $8 as a means of helping mainly service industry workers keep pace with the booming province's rising cost of living. "This will ensure minimum-wage earners share in Alberta's continued economic prosperity," said Stelmach, adding the 4.6% hike reflects the general increase in Alberta wages over the past year. While welcoming the increase, Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan said the rate level puts low-income earners permanently behind the economic curve. Reply | Quote 0   0

susanm   | Manager | 2008-03-19 13:35:46 Raising the minimum wage is a welcome addition, though I dare say forty cents an hours can keep pace with the ever increasing cost of living. We are told that most people making minimum wage are in the 15 - 19 age range and will eventually move on to other employment options. I say why shouldn't these folks, many of whom are working very hard in the food service industry be making a wage that can afford them the same opportunities as so many other Albertans. Reply | Quote 0   0

Anonymous - what works     | 68.171.235.112 | 2010-05-24 08:42:27 Trying to either raise minimum wage or lower rent isn't gonna happen. What should be available for the people is more assistance. It would make people proud to go to work everyday if the taxes they are paying into help them afford their rent! People work two jobs just to afford living in the city and to pay for transportation. There has to be a better way for the little man to life other than a box which RI likes to call stack living. Reply | Quote 0   0

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