[Zarley]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

If that were the case the minimum wage would have increased every single year, you know, with inflation. That hadn’t been the case. Interestingly enough even under the old system every time increasing the minimum was brought up we would still always hear the same arguments that it would hurt businesses.

Did you even look this up before you posted?

Alberta Minimum Wage History
Alberta 01-Sep-14 $10.20 2.51%
Alberta 01-Sep-13 $9.95 2.05%
Alberta 01-Sep-12 $9.75 3.72%
Alberta 01-Sep-11 $9.40 6.82%

Under the old policy minimum wage was increased every year, you know, with inflation. And prior to that, even though it wasn't raised annually, annualized minimum wage growth was 4.47% between 1992 and 2009, higher than CPI growth of 4.29% over the same period.

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Interestingly enough even under the old system every time increasing the minimum was brought up we would still always hear the same arguments that it would hurt businesses.

Really? I don't recall much controversy at all. It was almost universally viewed as a fair system that accomplished exactly what a minimum wage is intended to.

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I think your math is a little off here. If 3 servers were each making $9.20/hour in tips and the total amount of tips coming in remained the same and were split 2 ways instead of 3 if one server left, then the two remaining servers would be making $13.80 in tips alone. Add their minimum wage to that and they would be earning $27.40/hour or $1096/week. The total earnings for both employees combined would be $2192(not including the manager)

Apologies, I may have made a typo in haste but it doesn't affect the bottom line. Why are you ignoring the hostess?

Weekly Earnings Pre-Wage Increase
Rate / Base Pay / Tips /Total
Hostess $10.20 / hr / $408 / $408
Server $9.20 / hr / $368 / $368 / $736
Server $9.20 / hr / $368 /$368 / $736
Server $9.20 / hr / $368 /$368 / $736
Manager $25.00 / hr / $1,000 $1,000
Overall: $3,616
Weekly Earnings Today
Rate / Base Pay / Tips / Total
Server $13.60 / hr / $544 / $552 / $1,096
Server $13.60 / hr / $544 / $552 / $1,096
Manager $28.00 / hr / $1,120 / $1,120
Overall: $3,312

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

If you want to assume the 2 former employees couldn’t find other jobs.

Well, with thousands of service industry jobs disappearing, it’s not going to be easy. And even if these two hypothetical former employees find jobs, we know there are others who will not.

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

That’s clearly not the case. Even using your example.

Well, yes it’s actually decreased. In any case, things are not improving, except for those who manage to keep their minimum wage jobs. Once you consider the impact of this type of thing occurring at businesses across the province, you start to understand why we are seeing these poor employment numbers.

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I don’t remember ever arguing that it changed the amount of pay available for workers.

So you admit that a minimum wage increase of this magnitude only shifts earnings away from marginal employees while rewarding others? What is the benefit of this from a public policy perspective considering the public costs of increased unemployment?

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Oddly enough(according to the article you posted) it is somehow magically increasing the available pay to employees who’s employers are now giving their employees raises to keep them above minimum wage.

Can you please explain what you mean in this sentence?