This release was issued under a previous government.
Assistant manager Doug McCormick (left), store owner Kevin Kent and Labour Minister Christina Gray in Kent of Inglewood
Labour Minister Christina Gray reiterated the government’s promise to phase-in a $15-per-hour minimum wage in Alberta during a visit to a Calgary-based business specializing in high-quality personal grooming products.
“Business owners benefit when their staff can work with dignity. Our commitment to increasing the minimum wage will have long-term gains for employers, as happier employees are more likely to stay in their workplace, which reduces recruitment and training costs while helping the business succeed.”
“We want our staff to have the economic security they need to come to work in the morning feeling proud and ready to serve our customers. We’ve found that paying a fair wage to employees reduces turnover and increases productivity. It’s good for our staff, good for our customers and great for my business.”
A higher minimum wage will help low-wage Albertans meet their basic needs. It will also reduce the burden on social support programs such as food banks, and increase the spending power of low-wage earners in the Alberta economy.
Key facts
Of the 300,000 Albertans who earn less than $15 per hour:
- More than 50 per cent (172,000) work full time.
- More than 60 per cent (194,000) are women.
- More than 70 per cent (235,000) are not students.
- More than 33,000 Albertans earning less than $15 per hour are single earners with children.