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Point #1. I was on my own paying rent, utilities, food, clothing & transportation when I was 16. My rent, utilities, food, clothing and transportation was NOT at reduced cost because of my age so why should my wage have been reduced because of my age?
Unless we don't care about putting vulnerable people in poverty and holding them there? Unless we don't care about all people in society and if they have the ability to meet their basic needs?
Unfortunately not every child has amazing parents that take care of them and pay their way through life till they are out of college or university. Unfortunately not every child has a parent that can afford all the basics & the youth has to work to help pay the household bills.
This election promise completely ignores those 2 facts as if @jkenney believes in a happily ever after fairy tale and is planning on running the province as such. This lowered wage will be a direct hit to those in our society that are most vulnerable.
It forces this whole demographic into government programs that are paid for by the tax payer ultimately costing society more $$ in the long run. It is the equivalent of society subsidizing the business by removing the employees dignity so the business can make more money.
If a policy doesn't work for everyone and leaves people behind or leaves people out than the policy doesn't work for Alberta. We can and we must include ALL Albertans in the Alberta prosperity
Point #2 I have a teen aged son that will be able to drive this year. His insurance is not going to be less because of his age. In fact his insurance will be astronomically higher because of his age. How can we expect youth to pay this higher cost on a reduced wage?
I expect him to work for what he wants, as do most parents, because it instills good work ethic, gives life experience needed for later on in life. It teaches him good values as well raises his confidence and self worth. All of which will make him a productive successful adult
Not being able to make a basic wage sets youth up for failure in being able to afford things like a car, insurance for a car or save for post secondary. It lowers their ability to save for that 1st damage deposit & utility deposits so he can move out & have independence sooner.
Point #3 As a parent I am striving to raise a child with confidence, self worth and self esteem. What is society saying to our young people when we tell them their efforts are not worthy of a basic minimum wage? That they have a reduced worth, that they are not as valued.
How can we expect our youth to excel and become successful business owners of the future when their first job experience is telling them they are not important, not valued and not worthy?
Point 4. As the parent I am mandated to make up the difference in the dollars he is short for the things he needs. So if he is paid less, then that means I pay more. In short I will basically be subsidizing any employer he works for so that employer can make more money.
I have a real issue with the cost of everything falling onto the general public. It's not my business so why should I be forced to subsidize it to enable them to pay less? Why should my household $$ go towards covering my sons short fall in funds so that employer can make more?
Point 5. The hiring of employees happens when there is an increased demand for the businesses product or service, not because the employer happens to have some extra cash. There are only so many jobs available. How many adults are going to lose their job so the company can hire
cheaper labour? And how many youth will be let go on their 18th birthday because they are no longer cheap labour? Putting me out of work so my son can get a job isn't helpful to our society.
In closing this policy is short sighted with only a small minority benefiting while being unfair and not beneficial to the rest of society. It shows me that Kenney doesn't know the struggles of poor and middle class Albertans. It tells me that Kenney only cares about the
business owners that are donating to his campaign. I suspect he is once again making backroom promises in exchange for votes and money.
#BetterOffWithRachel
#BetterOffWithRachel
