[Dion]

One study conspicuously absent from the Notley NDP government's reading list is a made-in-Alberta look-see from the University of Alberta economist Joseph Marchand.

Marchand says it is true places like New York and California are committed to a US$15/hour minimum wage but will not reach that goal until 2022, not 2018, as in Alberta.

In other words, they're going slower.

The economist also points out California's plan allows for the postponement of minimum wage increases if labour demand decreases due to a recession.

Marchand advises until energy prices begin to move upward, "the province should postpone further increases to the minimum wage, as the potential job loss is just too great a worry."

That ain't happening.

Enter Amber Ruddy from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

She says Gray isn't telling the whole story. Far from it.

"Owners of small businesses are sick and tired of this provincial government's cavalier dismissal of their real world experience. And what do they get from this government? More headaches," says Ruddy.

"People come up to me and tell me they've had to lay people off, they've had to cut back on hours. They are struggling and the government says there is no fallout."

"What do we have to do to prove to them there is a real impact in what they're doing?"

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/09/30...-to-15-an-hour