So far, 2011 has not followed the script. Canada was supposed to have been the economic leader of the G8. It was widely expected that our economy—bolstered by solid banks and commodity prices—would sail through 2011 mostly unscathed by the global malaise. Now, teetering on the edge of a recession, Canada’s economy has been dealt yet another unforeseen blow, smacked in the face by none other than US President Barack Obama.

Does Alberta even NEED a minimum wage?

Effective September 1, the lowest wage a worker in Alberta can receive is $9.40 per hour, or $9.05 for servers of alcohol (where tips account for a large share of total earnings). The new minimum wage rate—an increase of 6.8% for general workers and a 2.8% increase for liquor servers—represents the first increase in the province since April 2009. The change will impact about 20,000 people, less than 1% of the current job market of 2.1 million workers. Even with the increase, Alberta’s minimum wage is still the lowest in the country.