It’s curious that a cornerstone policy of the Alberta NDP’s new “Affordability Agenda” will, in addition to reducing employment, raise prices for food and other essentials.

Specifically, the official Opposition wants the Alberta government to raise the minimum wage to $18 over three years. However, as many empirical studies show, artificially raising the cost of labour — which helps produce just about everything — means higher consumer prices. For example, a March 2026 study on California’s $20 fast-food minimum wage, which was implemented in April 2024, found the state’s minimum wage increase raised food-away-from-home (FAFH) prices (which include not only fast-food restaurants, but also full-service restaurants, bars, hotels and retail stores) by approximately 3.3%-3.6%.

LAU: Minimum wages hike will not increase ‘affordability’ in Alberta Back to video

What happens when eating out becomes more expensive?

People do........

© Edmonton Sun