Provincial Election: Advocate for affordability in Alberta
We’ve created a list of Alberta Living Wage Network election priorities to help guide your election conversations
The Alberta Provincial election is on May 29, 2023, with advanced voting starting on May 23. We know that affordability has been a topic of conversation lately and we want to equip you with questions and facts to bring to your local representative. We firmly believe that policy changes happen by elected officials knowing what matters to those they serve, so take these facts and questions, investigate, ask questions and vote!
Will you push for financial assistance or incentives for small and local businesses to pay a living wage? If so, what could they look like?
Fact: There are about 100 certified living wage employers in Alberta.
Fact: When people earn a living wage, they can afford healthier food, recreation, and can participate in their community. It boosts the local economy and eases strain on the health care system, justice system, and community services.
What ongoing programs/policies will you introduce that will lower the cost of living for those struggling to make ends meet (single individuals, single parents, minimum wage workers, students, etc.)
Fact: single adults in Alberta are three times more likely to live in poverty, and make up just over a third of social assistance users in the province (Vital Signs report, 2021).
Fact: Things that would make life more affordable include policies aimed at improving food security, making housing more affordable and available, reinstating the Northern Living Allowance, support for people with caring responsibilities to be active members of the workforce, equalized utility transmission/distribution fees for rural areas, pharmacare and dental care, etc.
Will your party commit to developing and implementing a well-funded and holistic poverty reduction strategy?
Fact: Alberta is one of the only provinces without a poverty reduction strategy.
Do you support minimum wage being indexed to inflation?
Fact: Alberta is one of the only provinces that doesn’t index its minimum wage to inflation, which means it’s effectively going down every year due to inflation.
Fact: Every other province raised their minimum wage since 2021, but Alberta’s has been the same since 2018.
How will you address challenges in the disability sector and the childcare sector?
Fact: Provincial funding levels in the disability sector have been frozen since 2014 and do not address operations and administrative costs. Wage increases in 2023–24 contracts have been limited to frontline staff.
Fact: Some communities (e.g., Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo) have a shortage of childcare spaces and workforce to work in the childcare sector.
Resources:
Elections Alberta – learn about how to vote, where to vote and everything else you need to know to be able to cast your vote
Click here to find your Official Representative: 2023 Provincial Candidates
Learn about party platforms: United Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Green Party, Alberta Liberal Party, Alberta Party