Alberta NDP Leadership candidate Kathleen Ganley is demanding immediate efforts to raise the minimum wage following an announcement in British Columbia on Monday, Feb. 26, that workers there would earn a minimum of $17.40 per hour starting June 1.
“BC is raising the minimum wage again. Working people in B.C. get more in their pockets and the local economy get a boost,” Ganley said. “Here in Alberta, people get growing costs and a government that doesn’t care. Costs here are up 18 per cent over the last five years, minimum wage hasn’t gone up a dime. People deserve better, they deserve a chance to get ahead, and that’s exactly what I would like to give them.”
As part of her campaign platform, Ganley has said she believes the $15-per-hour Alberta minimum wage should immediately increase to $16, then to $17 next year. Ganley has then proposed tying future increases to the rate of inflation. She also said the $13-per-hour youth minimum wage should be eliminated.
“Alberta workers are falling farther and farther behind,” Ganley said. “We need an economy that works for people and that’s what I intend to fight for as Alberta NDP Leader and deliver on as Premier.”
Alberta’s current minimum wage is set to be tied for the lowest in Canada later this year as Saskatchewan will also be moving to $15 per hour.
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More information on Team Ganley’s policies is available at TeamGanley.ca
Sarah Hoffman, Rakhi Pancholi and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse are also running for the leadership of the Alberta NDP.
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