By Sam Borsato (@BorsatoSam on Twitter)

“Listen to the Concerns of Working Families”; Wildrose Urges New Approach to Minimum Wage Hikes

Jul 18, 2016 | 7:35 AM

ALBERTA – Following recent minimum wage increase announcements, the Wildrose Party is issuing a warning that it might not be as beneficial as the NDP thinks.

Shadow Jobs Minister Grant Hunter says “sticking rigidly to ideology” is going to hit all Albertans hard when the $15 hike comes into effect for 2018.

From his perspective, Hunter says businesses will be forced to respond by either raising prices, laying more people off, lowering hours or automating processes.

“I take my hat off to the NDP for trying to address this issue,” noted Hunter. “I want to help the impoverished, so let’s create some empirical evidence, do an economic impact study and then create your plan based off that.”

He says the best option for poverty reduction is more training and skills that can help business owners rise up, or help other people find better paying jobs.

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In a previous statement from the Wildrose, a new survey suggests that 61-per cent of Albertans think a minimum wage hike should be delayed. The party stated that it’s time for government to “start listening” to its constituents.