by Morinville News Staff
The Wildrose Opposition called on the government to disclose the costs of an advertising purchase to promote the increase of Alberta’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2018.
The Wildrose criticized the NDP government’s previously having spent $4.4 million on a carbon tax ad buy, $250,000 to promote Bill 6, and almost $1.5 million to advertise the government’s two budgets. The Wildrose say the latest series of advertising on the minimum wage increase has appeared on multiple platforms in recent weeks.
“I question the efficacy of spending taxpayer dollars to promote the NDP government’s minimum wage increase,” said Wildrose Shadow Jobs Minister Grant Hunter in a release Tuesday. “If their plan was truly popular with Albertans, there would be no need to promote it. The last thing we need to see is more taxpayer dollars spent on promoting risky NDP policies.”
The Wildrose sees the spending as frivolous given the province’s current economic climate, and Hunter believes the government could easily find cost savings if they cut out the government advertising.
“These programs are forging ahead, and do not require public information campaigns,” Hunter said. “Out of respect to taxpayers, I urge the NDP government to cancel this advertising campaign.”
