Tag: Alberta

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Alberta Economic Ft Mac

Alberta Hike in Minimum Wage Sees Mixed Reactions From Residents and Businesses

hike in minimum wage, Alberta

The Alberta hike in minimum wage st to take place starting on October 1 of this year has seen mixed reactions from local residents and businesses alike. Brian Jean, the Wildrose Leader, has made accusations that the NDP did not consult with those in the business community in Alberta before making plans to increase the minimum wage. Rose explained “There has been zero economic analysis of the impact of the dramatic increase to the minimum wage. We need to put on the brakes, listen to chambers, small businesses and job creators to make sure we understand the full impact of this planned 50 per cent increase.” Wood Buffalo Brewing Co. general manager Steve Sachse explained that the wage increase would be a good thing for workers but that it would have a cost for businesses, saying “If it increases, the reality is our products will increase in price, too.”

Not everyone is critical of the Alberta hike in minimum wage though, some are in favor of the planned increase. Podollan Pub server 22 year old Ashley Cunningham said “When I used to be a night-time server, my paycheques were nothing to me. I only depended on my tips. Now I work full-time days. I do rely on my paycheques a little more, so making $9.20 is a little rough. I would feel it would be way better if it was higher.” University of Calgary economics professor Herbert Emery explained “If our interest is in actually helping people who have low income, we can do a lot more for them if we just follow the example of what we’ve done for seniors and other groups, which is basically to give them an income floor that they can work on top of. Because if we’re going to put … Albertans through all this pain of a labour market distortion, we might as well think of an instrument that might be effective in eradicating poverty, since we’re committed to making the expense anyways.”

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Alberta Economic Ft Mac

Minimum Wage Increase in Alberta Will Start October 1, 2015

minimum wage increase, Alberta

The minimum wage increase is scheduled to take effect in Alberta on October 1, 2015, making one of the lowest minimum wages into one of the highest in a single move. Last Monday an announcement was made by Labour Minister Lori Sigurdson concerning the plan to raise the minimum wage in Alberta over the next four years. Right now the minimum wage in Alberta is $10.20, and incremental increases over the next few years is intended to make the lowest possible wage $15 an hour for anyone working in Alberta. On October 1, 2015 the wage requirement for Alberta will go up by $1, making the minimum $11.20 in a few months. By the end of 2018 the minimum wage per hour for Albertans will be $15.

When the minimum wage increase in Alberta takes effect on October 1, 2015 this will make the region one of those with the highest minimum wage requirements, third behind Ontario and the Northwest Territories. Right now there is a difference in minimum wage for servers and certain other employee classifications, but this differential will also disappear in2016 so that there is one consistent minimum wage across the entire region. On October 1, 2015 servers will see a wage increase of $1.50 to start with, and eventually this will also be raised so that there is a single wage minimum requirement across Alberta. According to Labour Minister Lori Sigurdson “Paying people a decent minimum wage will translate into a better life for low-income workers and, as a result, a better life for their families and for all Albertans.”

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Alberta Entertainment Politics

Lacombe, Alberta Shows Social Behaviour Laws Can Work

Lacombe, Alberta, social behaviour laws

Lacombe, Alberta has shown that social behaiour laws can work when they are properly worded and enforced, in spite of the fact that Taber has quickly become the laughingstock of Alberta due to recent changes that are seen as an open invitation for police to write tickets and fine people who are not doing anything wrong. Lacombe has seen a reduction in crime after passing social behaviour laws according to Lancombe Police Chief Steve Murray. “One of those most encouraging things for me, is we’ve already seen a one-third reduction in criminal mischief. If we used the Criminal Code, say for someone causing a disturbance by swearing, we would arrest them, charge them, process them, and go to court, and this was a long drawn-out process for both our side and the court. I thought maybe there’s an opportunity here to address the anti-social behaviour the community is concerned about, but to make it more efficient.”

The city of Lancombe, Alberta has seen great results from their social behaviour laws. Criminal mischief in the city is down by 33%, public disturbance calls have decreased by 30%, and bullying and criminal harassment has gone down by 27%. Part of the backlash over Taber’s social behaviour laws is the concern that police may be too aggressive with enforcement measures, but these laws are designed to address public nuisances and social behaviour issues which affect everyone in the community. Chief Murray explained “That’s the sad part, anything can be taken the wrong way or abused, but I’d say the strongest defence for Lacombe’s bylaw is this was driven by the community.”

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Alberta Politics

Swearing Ban Proposed by Taber, Alberta

Taber, Alberta, swearing ban

A new swearing ban has been proposed by the town of Taber, Alberta, with a potential fine of $150 imposed for swearing in public. This is not the only ban that sounds ridiculous but which are a fact in the town. Taber also has bans on anyone under 18 years old being outdoors after 11pm, yelling, spitting, and even making too much noise while in a bar or getting together in a group of more than 3 people. These laws have made the town the subject of a lot of ridicule from outsiders, and they may not be that effective at curbing the bad behavior the laws were implemented to stop. Some attorneys are publicly commenting that Bylaw 4-2015 actually violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada, and saying that they will challenge the law if asked to do so by a prospective client.

The Taber, Alberta swearing ban has started people talking, bt not always in a good way or with discussions about the law and legal aspects. Many believe that there are much more important issues to tackle, and some feel that the town is going too far. Lethbridge Defense Bar lawyer Wade Hlady said “It reads like a police officer’s shopping list.” The bylaw is being criticized because of how it is worded, which basically gives police officers the right to hand out fines and force people to leave a location just because they could become a problem later on. Hlady explained “A person who whispers a swear-word in public could go to jail for up to six months. That might be taking things to the extreme, but I think Taber’s town council already did that.”

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Alberta Economic Politics

Forecast for Alberta Budget Shows Surplus Close to Half a Billion Dollars

Alberta, budget surplus

The forecast for Alberta for the current fiscal year is showing an expected budget surplus of around $465 million, and a loss of 31,000 jobs in 2015 due to oil prices that continue to fall. If oil prices continue to plummet this expected budget surplus for Alberta could change though, and experts are warning that caution must be used. A previous statement made by Premier Jim Prentice predicted a budget deficit for Alberta of approximately $500 million. Prentice stated “We have taken steps to protect our financial position that will help keep us in the black. Contract settlements made by previous administrations and significantly lower resource revenues have created a very challenging fiscal outlook for Alberta. This requires a reset of our fiscal foundation to address a $7 billion revenue gap.”

The expected Alberta budget surplus could disappear without much notice if the economic environment continues the same way, and this warning has already been issued by Finance Minister Robin Campbell. There is expected to be a decline of 20% in gas and oil investments in 2015, and this will be one of the weakest growth years for the energy industry so far. Campbell said “Let’s be clear, we’re about $300 million in the black and that could disappear in a heartbeat. The combination of all of those things has actually helped us but I would suggest to you that if the oil prices were to drop considerably over the next month, we could see that very small surplus disappear quite rapidly.”

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Alberta

Phu Lam Spared Two Infants During Alberta Mass Murder

Phu Lam, Alberta, mass murder
Phu Lam, Alberta, mass murder

Phu Lam, a 53 year old man of Vietnamese origin, was responsible for the Alberta mass murder in Edmonton recently that shocked the world. According to police there were two infants in the home who were spared, and it is suspected that the infants were related to Phu in some way. The motive behind the mass murder is still not clear and the case is still under investigation by law enforcement. New details have emerged which may help explain why Lam killed 8 people before taking his own life. Phu Lam was depressed according to many who knew him and the two day murder spree ended with Lam taking his own life at the Vietnamese eatery where he was employed.

The mass murder in Alberta was unexpected, but there were some hints that Phu Lam was becoming unhinged and there are reports that he had made threats against family members. It is believed that the first victim was Tien Truong, Lam’s wife. Also murdered were Truong’s 8 year old son, her 3 year old niece, both of her parents and her sister, and also an acquaintance of hers who was at the home at the time. The day following the mass murder Phu also murdered a 37 year old female who was a family friend, but police do not think the female was the primary target. It is not possible to understand what went through the mind of Phu Lam, or why he murdered a 3 year old and an 8 year old but did not harm the two infants in the home aged 8 months and 1 year. After murdering the entire family Lam left the two infants with a relative before the last murder and then his suicide.