Minimum wage hike sparks online petition
The opposition to Alberta’s minimum wage hike, which takes effect this fall, has now sparked an online petition, organized by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
The new NDP government has said it plans to increase the minimum wage from the current $ 10.20 an hour to $ 15 an hour by 2018.
“Since the changes have been announced to Alberta’s minimum wage, a flood of frustration has been pouring into our offices. The new government must hear the first- hand perspective from business owners about the negative impact this policy will have,” said Amber Ruddy, senior policy analyst for the CFIB in Calgary.
The government announced recently the province’s minimum wage will rise $ 1 to $ 11.20 on Oct. 1. Also, the liquor server minimum wage will jump to $ 10.70 an hour, from $ 9.20, in the first of two steps to eliminate the rate differential altogether in 2016.
The CFIB said it will support roundtable discussions on the issue with business owners.
A recent survey by the CFIB found that 79 per cent of small business owners in the province oppose the minimum wage hike to $ 15 by 2018 while 21 per cent are in support of it.
The CFIB survey is based on 973 responses from the organization’s members between June 19- 29.
Recently, the CFIB said another survey found that 48 per cent of small businesses in the province plan to raise prices for services and products if the minimum wage jumped to $ 15 an hour by 2018.
The CFIB said 43 per cent of small business owners it surveyed said they would have to increase wages, while one- third said they would be forced to put future hiring plans on hold. One quarter of respondents said they would reduce employee hours, it said.
One- third of respondents said the minimum wage increase would have no impact on their businesses.