About 254,000 Albertans – 11% of all workers – earned less than $15 an hour before the Oct. 1 change
Alberta’s minimum wage reached $15 an hour on Monday, increasing by $1.40. A new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business illustrates just how much it’s going to cost. The report said employers in the province are facing a $10,739 annual increase per entry-level, minimum-wage job compared to 2015 due to added wage costs…
Many minimum wage earners live with their parents and not in impoverished circumstances, says report
The debate over minimum wage is a heated one and a new report by Canadian public policy think-tank the Fraser Institute is sure to fuel more fire in this controversial issue. The study, Increasing the Minimum Wage in Alberta: A Flawed Anti-Poverty Policy, was released on Thursday. It said raising the province’s minimum wage will…
Increased sales the result of higher prices, not a significant boost in traffic across the country
This is shaping up to be the toughest year for food service operators since 2011, according to a report by Restaurants Canada. The association, which represents food service and hospitality businesses across the country, said overall food service sales in Canada were five per cent higher during the first six months of 2018 than during…
CFIB survey of Alberta small businesses found that 55% have reduced or eliminated plans to hire workers as the result of wage increases
Small business owners in Alberta continue to express their dismay over the minimum wage level in the province. A survey released on Wednesday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said 89 per cent of small business owners in Alberta are urging the provincial government to freeze the minimum wage at its current level of…
Instead of takeout, consumers can choose a meal kit that allows them to whip up an appealing dish in minutes
Meal kits are sweeping across North America. It’s the perfect trend for consumers who want to be empowered by cooking but still need convenience. For example, Walmart has just partnered with Gobble to deliver meal kits. In the battle over the future of food consumption in the U.S., Walmart wants a fighting chance against the industry’s…
Social assistance programs in Canada are falling behind. It's time we expanded basic coverage to include drug and dental care
By Arjumand Siddiqi and Odmaa Sod-Erdene University of Toronto Public health researchers have long known that poverty and poor health are linked, but new evidence suggests that social assistance – the government system designed to provide those in poverty with income support – is not succeeding at protecting health. Using data from national government surveys, we…
An overwhelming number of studies show that raising the minimum wage actually eliminates employment opportunities
What does the evidence about the impact of raising minimum wages actually say? It's one of the most contentious public policy debates of recent years. Opponents of raising the minimum wage say it will result in job losses – making it more expensive to hire workers means businesses will hire fewer workers. Supporters point to…
It’s not a too-generous minimum wage. It's the desire of other employers to hire workers whose value is beyond their current pay
Some people think it’s the government that protects workers, through minimum wage laws and regulations that ensure workers get a decent living wage and good working conditions. But in reality, minimum wages and labour regulations don’t protect workers at all – they actually reduce the protection workers enjoy. Take the case of a low-skilled worker…
A work-based subsidy increases the income of the working poor without making it harder for employers to hire less-skilled workers
By Charles Lammam and Hugh MacIntyre The Fraser Institute On June 1, the minimum wage in British Columbia increased from $11.35 to $12.65 per hour – the first in a series of hikes en route to $15.20 in 2021. That’s a 34 per cent increase in three years. Despite claims from Premier John Horgan and…
The better plan would be a work-based subsidy that provides a cash transfer to working families with incomes below a certain level
By Charles Lammam and Hugh MacIntyre The Fraser Institute The Ontario Liberals and Ontario Progressive Conservatives both recently announced how they intend to help the working poor if they win the June 7 provincial election. Unfortunately, neither party has the right policy for targeting those who need help the most. First consider the Liberal approach…
Alberta’s minimum wage reached $15 an hour on Monday, increasing by $1.40. A new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business illustrates just how much it’s going to cost. The report said employers in the province are facing a $10,739 annual increase per entry-level, minimum-wage job compared to 2015 due to added wage costs…
