Article content continued

He also said that the UCP would look into a call from some in the food service industry to reinstate a lower allowable minimum wage for young workers, an idea he also referenced last fall. “We take the recommendation of the restaurant employers very seriously,” he said. “We have a crisis of youth employment in Alberta.”

Notley, who addressed a Rotary Club of Calgary luncheon Tuesday, defended her government’s universal $15 minimum wage.

“I have personally lost count of the number of times I’ve had young people approach me in stores or restaurants and tell me, just organically, how the change in the minimum wage means that they can continue their studies at school while working part time,” Notley said.

The back-and-forth about wages and other employer obligations came as Restaurants Canada launched its “Restaurant Realities” campaign on Tuesday.

Mark von Schellwitz, Restaurants Canada’s vice-president for Western Canada, said statutory holiday pay and a $15 minimum wage has hurt businesses.

He advocated a separate minimum wage for young people in the industry alongside a repeal of policy that forces restaurants to pay employees stat holidays whether they are open or closed. “The minimum wage was increased too much, too fast and at exactly the wrong time for our industry in Alberta,” said von Schwellitz.

The Alberta Federation of Labour was quick to voice support for the current wage rules. “Minimum wage increases and their impacts on employment has been studied around the world, in fact it’s been studied to death,” said AFL president Gil McGowan. “The conclusion is that minimum wage increases do not result in job loses but that’s what we’re being told today.”

McGowan said Kenney’s stance shows he will stand with the Alberta business class rather than Alberta workers.

Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel, speaking in broader strokes than Kenney at the Restaurants Canada event, said his party would favour lowering taxes and allow for free-market solutions in the food service industry.

“This industry has been dealt with somewhat unfairly, if not really unfairly,” said Mandel. “The current government leaps before they think of the real consequences.”

— With files from Clare Clancy

Listen to our Canadian news podcast