Alberta Election

ALBERTA NDP FULL RESPONSE:

Opening Comment:

Thank you for the opportunity to respond and share our position on these important issues. Rachel Notley and Alberta’s NDP are committed to working with your members to grow and diversify the Alberta economy and to provide stable, predictable leadership.

Predictable Minimum Wage Increases:  Yes

We will work with you to establish a predictable, rational schedule for minimum wage, tying it to inflation as many in the business community here have advocated. We will work with you to ensure Alberta’s wages remain competitive during a time of labour shortage while providing stability and certainty for businesses.

Retaining the student minimum rate differential:  No

We will eliminate the discriminatory youth minimum wage, which has been administratively complex for businesses. We value the role of the retail sector and are happy to provide further information and resources when it comes to implementation of this change.

Our approach, when combined with a 0% small business tax rate and a restoration of the STEP subsidy program, will be good for Alberta families, for businesses, and for Alberta’s economy.

Collaborate on Retail Safety and Crime:  Yes

An Alberta NDP government would join RCC and other key stakeholders to take action on retail safety and crime.

Additionally, we will tackle threats to public safety especially in transit and in our downtowns by investing $40 million to hire 150 officers along with 150 social workers, mental health workers, addictions counselors, and community outreach workers to work in integrated teams with police.

While the UCP wants to eliminate the RCMP, we will maintain an RCMP presence in communities across the province. Further, we would invest an initial $10 million in specialized Rural Crime Reduction Units to fight rural crime while hiring added probation officers and investing in post-release programs to stop repeat offenders.

We will also support the revitalization of our communities and downtowns with our Hometown Alberta infrastructure funding program and support for urban renewal.

Maintain no PST:  Yes

With an Alberta NDP government, there will be no provincial sales tax.

Maintain Fiscal Responsibility and Taxes:  Partially

At a time of unusually high inflation, Albertans are struggling with the rising cost of living. An Alberta NDP government will hold the line on taxes Alberta families pay. With an Alberta NDP government, there will be no provincial sales tax, and there will be no increases in provincial income taxes. We will also lower residential power bills and freeze auto insurance to help all Albertans, including your members and their employees.

We are projecting surplus budgets for every year of our fully costed platform, in line with recommendations from former ATB Financial VP and Chief Economist Todd Hirsch in his report, A Better Fiscal Future: Fiscal Recommendations to Position Alberta for Success.

Support for Small Businesses… Alberta’s tax advantage allows us to attract top talent while supporting businesses and families across the province. We’ll eliminate the small business tax rate, setting it to zero for more than 100,000 small businesses, including retail establishments, restaurants, mechanic shops, family farms, and more.

Alberta business owners could save up to $10,000 per year, at an estimated cost of $150 million to the Government of Alberta.

In terms of your specific priorities, please see the responses below and feel free to be in touch with further questions.

RCC NOTE:  The NDP have announced that they would raise the corporate tax rate from 8% to 11% over three years but notes the rate would still be the lowest in Canada.

Support Retail Job Gaps and Growth:  Yes

Addressing labour shortages is critical to Alberta’s long-term success.

An Alberta NDP government will work with representatives from key business sectors such as the RCC, post-secondary, technical institutes, labour, and newcomer settlement agencies to grow the workforce. Working together, we can support each industry’s unique labour requirements and attract talented individuals who can bring new ideas and skills to Alberta.

UNITED CONSERVATIVE PARTY FULL RESPONSE

Opening Comment: 

We would be happy to discuss other strategies with the Retail Council of Canada.

Predictable Minimum Wage Increases:  Yes

We have no plans to raise the minimum wage, but at such time as it does need adjustment a UCP government would work with retailers and other employers to find a predictable mechanism that is fair to workers.  We would avoid the significant job losses and workplace disruption that many retailers experienced with the hasty $15/hour (25%) hike.

Retaining the student minimum rate differential:  Yes

The UCP would retain the student rate differential as a fair way to get more young Albertans into their first job.

Collaborate on Retail Safety and Crime:  Yes

The UCP government has taken a strong stand to help take back our streets from gangs and criminals and find the right help for those with mental health and addictions issues.

We’ve added officers to both Edmonton and Calgary’s downtowns, and re-deployed Sheriffs to assist them.  We’ve also made record investments in mental health and addictions.

At unitedconservative.ca you can see our recent announcements to enhance this work with both new initiatives to fight crime on the streets, as well as record investments and innovation in mental health and addictions.  We are on the right track to get your front-line employees the peace of mind they deserve at work.

We would be happy to meet with retailers and other stakeholders after the election to discuss how best to deploy these resources in collaboration with store owners and employees as well as other community groups.  

Maintain no PST:  Yes

Just before the election we announced that we would add personal tax increases and business tax increases to the Taxpayer Protection Act which we respect for prohibiting sales taxes without a referendum.

Maintain Fiscal Responsibility and Taxes:  Yes

Our first campaign announcement was the announcement of a lower rate of taxation on the first $60,000 of income, which will help all taxpayers with up to $750 savings; it should be especially helpful in attracting and retaining employees to work in Alberta’s essential retail sector.

We can afford to make life more affordable for Albertans because of some difficult work done over the last four years to get better value from tax dollars without raising them.  The NDP have made clear that, if elected again, they will raise business taxes a lot, but increase spending much more.  The resulting deficits will add pressure for sales taxes fix a so-called “revenue problem” which would be in reality be an NDP spending problem.

Support Retail Job Gaps and Growth:  Maybe

The UCP is already working on improving the Alberta Immigration Nominee Program to expand and tailor it more to our labour shortages.  Our tax reductions will also be an incentive to work in Alberta, as will one of the most affordable home prices in Canada.  We would be happy to discuss other strategies with the Retail Council of Canada.