In the lead up to the 2019 provincial election, issues related to the province’s economy have been the highest priority for both of the major political parties and have therefore dominated media coverage and the overall public conversation. However, as our Executive Director Joel French wrote in a blog post, "If the goal is to move Alberta forward, not backward, then public services need to be at the heart of the campaign."

Albertans value their public services, and they need to be strengthened. Services like health care, early learning and child care, care for Alberta's seniors, the public education system, and our post secondary system are vital to a thriving and healthy society. 

We interviewed activists and advocates from across the province to learn more about the issues, and to hear the concerns of citizens of our province.

On January 16th, 2019, Public Interest Alberta held a press conference at Jasper Place Child Care & Family Resource Centre to release the summary of our 2018 Child Care Survey, which focused on studying the outcomes of the government's $25-a-day child care pilot program. The results are clear: the program is a success. We need universal child care so families are fully supported in the care and development of their children. 

What are key issues in health care affecting seniors this upcoming election? Public Interest Alberta and Friends of Medicare held a citizens' forum in Red Deer to talk about critical issues facing Albertan seniors and their families like the need for universal pharmaceutical coverage, expanded capacity and staffing in our hospitals, and major improvements in our seniors' care system. Our government must invest in improvements to care for our province's system because Alberta Seniors Deserve Better.  

Classroom conditions are the central issue for K-12 education in Alberta’s election. Voters need to hold political parties to a high standard, demanding that they take action to reduce class sizes and increase classroom supports. Public Interest Alberta recently held a citizens’ forum in Edmonton at the Alberta Teachers' Association to address these important issues.

Post-secondary education is the answer to many of Alberta’s challenges, including our transition to a more stable and diversified economy. To meet those challenges, we need a stronger system that is higher quality, more affordable, and more accessible. Public Interest Alberta recently interviewed students, faculty, and staff at the University of Alberta to get their thoughts on how to address those issues.

On March 6, 2019, Friends of Medicare and Public Interest Alberta hosted a Citizens' Forum on Health Care and Seniors' Issues in Red Deer, Alberta at the Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre. 

The event had three moderated panels with discussion on the need for a universal pharmacare program, expanded capacity and staffing in our hospitals, and major improvements to the state of long-term care for Alberta's seniors.  

The event was extremely well-attended, with over 100 citizens listening to experts and advocates from across the province, and voicing their concerns and calls to action. 

Public Interest Alberta in the News

Seniors’ health at the forefront during forum in Red Deer

by Sean McIntosh, Red Deer Advocate

Citizens’ forum discusses problems with healthcare programs for seniors

Robin Grant, Red Deer Express

Shortfalls in seniors’ health programs to be discussed at Red Deer forum

by Lana Michelin, Red Deer Advocate

Public Interest Alberta teamed up with Friends of Medicare to produce a series of four videos to kick off the campaign Alberta Seniors Deserve Better in advance of the 2019 provincial election. The campaign, with ads directed and written by Abdul Mailk, highlights the issues facing seniors in the continuing care system, and encourages Albertans to sign a petition to call on all of Alberta’s political parties to make strengthening seniors’ care a top priority in the 2019 provincial election.

The campaign tackles four main issue areas facing Alberta’s seniors in the current continuing care system:  high out-of-pocket costs shouldered by seniors and their families for essentials like medications and personal items, the complexity of the referral system that makes accessing care confusing and difficult, the lack of legislation to mandate staff-to-patient ratios in seniors’ care, and finally, the profit motivation that comes with corporations providing much of our seniors’ care.

Alberta’s seniors have worked hard their entire lives to contribute to our province and deserve to live in dignity with high quality care. “This should be an election issue,” said Carol Wodak, a senior and member of the Public Interest Alberta Seniors’ Task Force at the March 5 video premiere. She added, “Caring for our vulnerable seniors now, caring for ourselves when we reach that point, ought to be a priority. Much more than saving any money, which in fact doesn't save us money in the end.”

Join us in calling on all of Alberta’s political parties to make strengthening seniors’ care a top priority in the 2019 provincial election. All parties must prioritize the public services that are so important to the health and well-being of Albertans — especially our seniors. Alberta seniors deserve better.

Learn more and take action at ABSeniors.ca

On January 16th, 2019, Public Interest Alberta held a press conference at Jasper Place Child Care & Family Resource Centre to release the summary of their 2018 Child Care Survey. 

In addition to overall conditions in the child care sector, the survey sought to gain insights into the impact of of the Government of Alberta’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Centres pilot program, also known as the $25-a-day program. The results are clear: the pilot program is a success. While the child care sector continues to face challenges such as long wait lists, the ELCC program significantly reduces those barriers to high-quality child care. Through public funding, the ELCC centres are better equipped to support children with complex needs, and are able to hire and retain better-trained staff.

The continuation and expansion of the ELCC program should be a cornerstone of government priorities for strong public services. 

Read our media release

Read the 2018 Child Care Survey Summary

Public Interest Alberta in the News

Benefits of $25-a-day daycare highlighted in new report

by Carly Robinson, CityNews

Alberta child-care survey points to success of $25-a-day programs

by Jordan Omstead, CBC

Funded child care centres increase quality, reduce gaps in affordability: Public Interest Alberta

by Dylan Short, Edmonton Journal

Calls to expand Early Learning Child Care Program

by Regan Hasegawa, CTV News Edmonton

Parents benefiting from provincially funded child care centres: survey

by Dylan Short, Calgary Sun

2018 Alberta Low Wage Report

Public Interest Alberta obtained the following information from Statistics Canada’s monthly Labour Force Survey. It indicates the average number of employed Albertans in each category for the year ending June 30, 2018. The total number of employed Albertans in this period was 1,913,200. The minimum wage will increase from $13.60 per hour to $15.00 per hour on October 1, 2018.

More than 300,000 Alberta workers will receive a raise on October 1^st because of the minimum wage increase.

• 302,300 employed Albertans earn less than the incoming minimum wage of $15 per hour (15.8%).
• 359,100 earn less than $16 per hour (18.8%).
• 159,500 earn the current minimum wage of $13.60 per hour (8.3%).

More than 60 percent of workers receiving a minimum wage raise are women.

• 189,400 workers earning less than the incoming minimum wage of $15 per hour are women (62.7%).
• 100,100 workers earning the current minimum wage of $13.60 per hour are women (62.8%).
• 223,200 workers earning less than $16.00 per hour are women (62.2%).

More than three-quarters of workers receiving a minimum wage raise are 20 years of age or older.

• 233,300 are 20 years of age or older (77.2%).
  o 163,300 are between 20 and 44 years old (54.0%).
  o 59,300 are between 45 and 64 years old (19.6%).
  o 10,700 are 65 years of age or older (3.5%).

Download our printable fact sheet

Read our media release showing what the data means for Albertans working in the province.

Regional Fact Sheets

• Athabasca - Grande Prairie - Peace River
• Calgary
• Edmonton
• Lethbridge
• Medicine Hat
• Red Deer
• Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake

Public Interest Alberta in the news

Minimum wage debate Segment on Alberta Primetime (CTV Two)
300,000 Albertans to benefit from minimum wage boost Interview on The Ryan Jespersen Show (630 CHED)
Minimum wage increase to benefit Red Deer workers by Susan Zielinski, Red Deer Advocate
300,000 Albertans will be getting a raise next month by Daily Hive Calgary
One in six working Albertans can expect a raise when minimum wage goes up Oct. 1, advocacy group estimates by Hamdi Issawi, Star Metro Edmonton
Thousands of Red Deerians to receive minimum wage increase by Troy Gillard, rdnewsNOW
Pending minimum wage hike will boost local economy: PIA by Tim Kalinowski, Lethbridge Herald
Chamber joins poverty-reduction group in opposition to minimum wage increase by Collin Gallant, Medicine Hat News (Low Wage Report mentioned)
Group takes issue with minimum wage approach by Collin Gallant, Medicine Hat News
Better wages won't fix poverty: Thrive by Collin Gallant, Medicine Hat News (Low Wage Report mentioned)
Minimum Wage Increases in Alberta by Ania Werbeniuk, Lexology
Who's driving the Thrive bus? Letter to the Editor, Medicine Hat News
Minimum wage increase will have major pain by Dayla Lahring, St. Albert Gazette (Low Wage Report mentioned)
25% of workforce gets raise by Collin Gallant, Medicine Hat News
A guide to Alberta's new $15 minimum wage and what it will mean for the economy by Kieran Leavitt & Brennan Doherty, Star Metro Edmonton
Alberta's minimum-wage workers tell us what $15 an hour really means for their bottom line by Hamdi Issawi & Brennan Doherty, StarMetro Edmonton
What does the increase in minimum wage mean for you? Alberta at Noon (CBC Radio)
Goes too far or about darn time, Alberta minimum wage hike continues to divide by David Bell, CBC News
$15 minimum wage increase met with mixed reception from public by Evan J. Pretzer, The Stony Plain Reporter
Minimum wage increase draws mixed reviews by Eric Bowling, Westlock News

Previous Low Wage Reports

2017 Low Wage Report
2016 Low Wage Report

Public Interest Alberta has launched this new campaign calling for the provincial government to fix Alberta's revenue shortage to protect and revitalize our public services.

Albertans need public services. They must be strengthened, not cut.

Resource revenues should be saved for future generations, not relied upon to fund government's basic operations.

Alberta's revenue shortage is best solved by renovating our tax system with changes to personal income taxes and a sales tax.

To learn more about our campaign and to take action, please visit www.RevenueReno.ca

Read our campaign launch media release

Read our Red Deer event media release

Watch our press conference

Watch our public discussion event in Edmonton

Watch the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs event in Lethbridge

Download our print leaflet

Public Interest Alberta in the news

Lobby group pitches sales tax in Alberta to save public services by Crystal Laderas, 660 News
An Alberta sales tax: The unpopular idea that just won't die by Robson Fletcher, CBC News (makes mention of the Revenue Reno campaign)
The Return of the Leg, Pipelines, and prep for the 2019 election by Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman, Daveberta.ca podcast (mention of campaign begins at the 1 hour 8 minute mark)
The revenue reno campaign. Taxes could be good thing Interview with Joel French on the Rob Breakenridge show (News Talk 770)
Public Interest Alberta's revenue reno campaign Interview with Joel French on the Ryan Jespersen show (630 CHED)
Sustainable public services unattainable without 'revenue renovation' by United Nurses of Alberta news
Public Interest Alberta to host Revenue Reno in Red Deer Red Deer Advocate
Alberta’s revenue shortage concerns Central Albertans by Sean McIntosh, Red Deer Advocate
Alberta's tax system fair but failing, experts warn by Brodie Thomas, Star Metro Calgary
Advocacy group says tax reform, sales tax needed to get province off revenue roller coaster by rdnewsNOW
Globe editorial: It's time for Alberta to bite the bullet and impose a sales tax by The Globe and Mail
Opinion: Albertans face choice between service cuts or a sales tax by Joel French, Edmonton Journal
Alberta needs to renovate its tax system to generate more revenue by Joel French, Calgary Herald
Public Interest Alberta hosts meeting in Lethbridge for new 'Revenue Reno' campaign by Malika Karim, Global News Lethbridge
When Does "Advantage" Bring Structural Deficits? Ask Alberta Interview with Joel French on The View Up Here podcast
Alberta's tax regime today's SACPA topic Lethbridge Herald
Taxes only way to reduce deficit by Dave Mabell, Lethbridge Herald
Provincial Sales Tax Recommended by Public Interest Alberta 94.1 CJOC FM

Public Interest Alberta and the University of Alberta's Dr. Kristopher Wells have released Progress Report on LGBTQ Policies of Four Alberta School Boards (download the full report).

This work builds on our previous work with Dr. Wells, Making the Grade: An analysis of sexual orientation and gender identity policies in Alberta.

Read our media release

Watch our press conference

Our organization has been supportive of efforts to ensure that the policies and guidelines of all of Alberta's 61 school boards fully reflect the requirements of recent provincial legislation with regard to sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ), and in particular the changes mandated by Bills 10 and 24. The provincial government originally required school boards to submit their policies in this area by March 31, 2018. These policies must be made publicly available by June 30, 2018.

As an interim measure, Dr. Kristopher Wells was asked by Public Interest Alberta to evaluate the current policies of four school boards, two each from public and Catholic school systems:

• Westwind School Division #74
• Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools
• Edmonton Catholic Separate School District No. 7
• Buffalo Trail Public Schools

The purpose of the project is not to generalize about the policies of the remaining boards on the basis of these four, but rather to analyze in detail the specific policies of these four boards in order to determine the nature and extent to which they currently meet the expectations of the legislation, and the kinds of changes that will be necessary in the near future as a result.

Our ultimate goal is to contribute to a process that will ensure all 61 boards have exemplary policies and guidelines which meet the legal requirements of government and, in turn, actively welcome, support, and affirm LGBTQ students, staff, and families as a full and valued part of the school community.

Public Interest Alberta in the news

School LGBTQ policies out of step with School Act changes, advocacy group says by Janet French, Edmonton Journal
Alberta school boards face steep climb to support LGBTQ students: Report by Kevin Maiman, Metro News
Deadline for LGBTQ school policy approaches by Susan Zielinski, Red Deer Advocate
Public Interest Alberta released a report on how school board policies need to change to support LGBTQ students, staff and families Danielle Smith radio show (News Talk 770)
Some school boards falling behind on protecting sexual minority students by Dave Cournoyer, Daveberta.ca

CHILDREN IN CRISIS

Nearly 150,000 children in Alberta – that’s one out of every six kids – currently live in poverty. Poverty is prevalent across the province, but vulnerable groups such as single parents, minimum wage earners, and racialized communities are more susceptible. The result is generation after generation of people who lack access to early education, health care supports, adequate housing, and proper nutrition.

 

LEARNING AND GROWTH

Poverty can impede children’s ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional, and behavioral problems, which continues into teens and adulthood.

• Children born into poverty are at a greater risk of low birth weight, poor nutrition and subsequent health issues, developmental delays, abuse and neglect, and behavioral and socioemotional problems.
• Many children in poverty arrive at school with developmental and behavioral disadvantages, which adversely effect academic outcomes
• Children in poverty are less likely to graduate high school
• Lack of education, supports, and chronic health conditions can lead to unemployment and adult poverty

THE WORKING POOR

Many children living in poverty have parents who work, but low wages and unstable employment leave their families struggling to make ends meet. Low-income earners face obstacles finding affordable housing, arranging transportation to and from work, buying basic necessities, arranging childcare, having unpredictable work schedules, and juggling two or more jobs.

Risks are greatest for children who experience poverty when they are young and/or experience deep and persistent poverty.

 

Read more on child poverty here: Keep Investing in Alberta’s Children: The Government’s Role in Ending Child and Family Poverty

QUALITY CHILD CARE

• Provide greater access to affordable, quality child care spaces to ensure that those wanting to participate in the work force or to increase their earning power through training or education can do so, particularly for women and single parents
• Develop a strategy to support child care centres implementing the province’s new curriculum framework.
• Continuing investments should be made to help support increased access to child care spaces for families with infants, children with special needs, and those living with lower incomes
• Improve hours of accessibility to child care spaces
• Establish child care centres in underutilized schools and require all new schools and other publicly-owned facilities to incorporate additional space for early childhood and after school programs

BETTER SUPPORTS

• All orders of government should adopt living wage policies for contracted services
• Provide additional support for language and employment training for Albertans who need to upgrade their skills and literacy or be re-skilled
• Increase social assistance rates, which are currently the lowest in Canada, and index income support programs like Alberta Works and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped to inflation
• Increase earnings exemptions and asset limits to make income support programs more fair and effective at lifting Albertans out of poverty

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

• Increase direct to tenant rent subsidies to enhance affordability for low-income families and individuals in the rental market
• Remove the budget cap on rent supplements, which currently leaves eligible Albertans without that support after the budgeted amount has been spent each year
• Ensure affordable housing units are available in all neighbourhoods and municipalities
• Significantly increase asset limits for eligibility to social housing and lengthen the transition time for Albertans moving out of social housing
• Extend the Alberta Adult Health Benefit to low-income working Albertans
• Extend the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit to all low-income Albertans, including those without children

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TAKE ACTION

Sign our From Poverty to Progress Petition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2017 Low Wage Report

Public Interest Alberta obtained the following low-wage earner statistics from Statistics Canada's monthly Labour Force Survey. They indicate the average number of employed Albertans in each category for the year ending June 30, 2017. The minimum wage will increase from $12.20 per hour to $13.60 per hour on October 1, 2017.

Nearly one in five employed Albertans are low-wage workers.

• 343,500 of 1,895,000 employed Albertans earn $15 per hour or less (18.1%).
• 395,900 earn $16 per hour or less (20.9%).
• 221,600 earn the new minimum wage of $13.60 per hour or less (11.7%).
• 125,900 earn the minimum wage of $12.20 per hour (6.6%).

The majority of low-wage workers in Alberta are women.

• 206,300 low-wage workers are women (60.1%).
• 73,200 workers earning the minimum wage of $12.20 per hour are women (58.1%).
• 133,700 workers earning the new minimum wage of $13.60 per hour or less are women (60.3%).

More than three-quarters of low-wage workers are 20 years of age or older.

• 263,100 (76.6%) are 20 years of age or older.
  • 191,200 (55.7%) are between 20 and 44 years old.  
  • 71,900 (20.9%) are 45 years of age or older.

Download our printable fact sheet

Read our media release showing what the data means for Albertans working in the province.

Regional fact sheets

• Athabasca - Grande Prairie - Peace River
• Calgary
• Edmonton
• Lethbridge
• Medicine Hat
• Red Deer
• Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake

Previous Low Wage Reports

2016 Low Wage Report