The Airdrie Chamber of Commerce is strongly backing a resolution presented at the recent Alberta Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting that will call on the Alberta government to put off an increase in the provincial minimum wage to $15 per hour starting October 1st.  

The resolution was sponsored by the Medicine Hat Chamber and co-sponsored by the Grande Prairie Chamber.  It said the impact of the government's minimum wage increases on small business in Alberta has been negative.   While it said the goal of poverty reduction is commendable and widely supported, trying to resolve this complex issue by simply implementing minimum wage increases is not the most effective solution and said a more robust solution should be applied.

The President of the Airdrie Chamber, Glen Smaha said members of the Alberta Chamber will be lobbying the government "as loud and proud as we can that we don't want this to take place, that we want them to consider other options.  For our part in it, we're following in the footsteps of the Alberta Chamber in supporting their initiatives to support our membership and the local businesses here."

Currently, the minimum wage in the province sits at $13.60 per hour.  Smaha said small business owners he's spoken to in Airdrie tell him they're finding it increasingly difficult to meet the ever higher wages.

"What they're telling us is that, with the increases that they've already faced and the further one for October, they're finding it increasingly difficult to stay competitive and as well it's putting upward pressure throughout the wage spectrum when you have the entry positions getting paid at that level. They're facing not only the increased costs but it's also affecting their bottom line and the future viability of some of those entities."

Smaha said the average business in Airdrie and across Alberta and Canada is not one that's tremendously affluent. 

"The majority are small businesses and it's those small businesses that are most affected by something like the minimum wage increase that we've seen and the one that's forthcoming. One of the comments we've heard is that owners find themselves working more in the business themselves because they can't afford to have the staff on hand to facilitate those roles so what you have is increasing pressure and stress on a business owner to perform more of the work themselves rather than paying someone else.  Ultimately that's the complete opposite of what the government's intentions are and you've got somebody who's now not paying somebody whatsoever because they're doing it themselves."

Smaha said there's a fine line between profitability and taking a loss for most small businesses and ultimately the business owner will take on that sacrifice themselves to contribute to their business. 

 

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