What Happened to Alberta's Bragging Rights?

Is the "Alberta Advantage" disappearing? For decades, the province has boasted higher wages, lower unemployment, and a lower cost of living than the rest of Canada. But the numbers show a troubling trend. We investigate what's behind it, and what the future could look like, in this episode of Real Talk.
3:03 | Why is Alberta's minimum wage the lowest in the country? Why aren't private sector workers sharing in their employers' record profits? Is Alberta inherently anti-union? Economist Dr. Jim Stanford takes us into his report, "Alberta's Disappearing Advantage".
READ THE REPORT: afl.org/wp-content/uploads/20...
42:15 | It's the perfect time of year to spot wildlife in Jasper! We feature some amazing options to tour, hike, or paddle your way to the perfect photograph in #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper.
BOOK YOUR JASPER GETAWAY: www.jasper.travel/
44:48 | Can Justin Trudeau possibly regain ground he's lost to Pierre Poilievre? What do the Alberta NDP's new membership numbers mean for its leadership race? Could Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe lose his job? What the heck is going on in B.C. politics? And, is Quebec really trending toward another referendum? 338Canada's Philippe Fournier joins us from Montreal.
CHECK OUT PHILIPPE'S SUBSTACK: www.338canada.ca/
1:23:05 | We're celebrating 10,000 followers on our RealTalkRJ TikTok! Ryan and Johnny revisit our recent post about a political mixer aimed at "youth" aged 14-25.
SGT. KERRY SHIMA ON REAL TALK: rtrj.info/070422Shima
GOLFERS: The Real Talk Golf Classic presented by CWB Wealth is close to selling out! We'd love for you to join us Thursday, June 20 at The Ranch G&CC for Edmonton's Best Golf Tournament in support of the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship.
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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates

[@catgir5x]

You love to Blame Notley.....what about Tyrant Dani?

[@tobiasfrost86]

Cause the province was dogs*** when she ran the province, you're just a leftist tool who thinks the ndp and liberals can't do anything wrong

[@RM-qf3sh]

if anyone can introduce a PST it is the UCP.

[@RealTalkRJ]

Can you imagine.... -rpj

[@LastKnight-vt4rd]

@@RealTalkRJ Really you are in support of that move unbelievable

[@tbone5816]

Sharp guests! Great discussion.

[@justinventela]

10:17 in 2013, Alberta had the lowest minimum wage in Canada but the least amount of people who actually worked for minimum wage and it had the highest pay in all of Canada. In 2015 we became the highest minimum wage and according to your charts that's when our advantage started eroding how do you square that Circle 12:15 what's sea change from economist exactly what you described the negative effects happened in Alberta

[@mikearchibald744]

"For many years, Alberta boasted the highest wages in Canada - built on the foundation of the province’s successful and high-productivity economy. However, as of 2023 that is no longer the case: hourly employees now earn more in B.C. than in Alberta. In 2023, Alberta’s average wages were only 3% higher than the Canadian average, down from a 17% advantage in 2013. The real purchasing power of an average hour of paid work in Alberta has fallen 10% in the last decade. The long-celebrated “Alberta advantage” is disappearing quickly for workers - although, as shown below, the province still offers enormous advantages for corporations, as confirmed by their profits and power"

[@justinventela]

@@mikearchibald744 I agree for the most part, but still how was it that Alberta 2013, pay 17% more on average, while having the lowest minimum wage in the country with the lowest amount of peaple working for set wage. 15$ per hour min wage in 2015, hurt Alberta, the stats bare it out.

[@squatch545]

@@justinventela Because oil industry jobs skewed the mathematical average for everyone else. In 2012, 25% of all workers in Calgary were making less than $20/hr.

[@mikearchibald744]

@jeff-xl9dv2cp6z Well thats something else entirely, but the fact is that apart from some oil companies, as people get poorer, so do corporate profits til you essentially have a third world african colony where oil is extracted to no benefit of the population til its gone leaving them with the cleanup costs.

[@mikearchibald744]

@@justinventela I'm but a poor simple farmer, you'll have to explain that. If the economy is doing well then you have few people earning minimum wage. So what minimum wage is, doesn't matter. As the economy getts worrse, wages drop or else there aren't as many people earning higher wages. You are talking about two separate groups of people, those paid well, those paid poorly. As the oil work disappeared an people moved, there were fewer of the well paid ones. So I don't see how paying the poor ones a little more money is 'bad', its completely different from the fact that the oil industry modernized and got rid of a lot of the well paid jobs that may have been low skilled. I remember an interview with a guy in the tech sector who when prices collapsed TWO times ago said that he and others were making their money by getting rid of replaceable workers, like the forestry indstry had done two decades ago. THe idea that corporations were going to pay high school graduates with a trucking license 90 grand a year was certainly not going to last.

[@pswelles5714]

Quebec, next question.

[@murraytown4]

The UCP happened.

[@chadtosh6831]

Yet under the NDP we lost population……….. seems the advantage wasn’t there with them. Now people are moving here, must be better economically than the other parts of Canada they are leaving to come here.

[@JonathanSicoli]

​@@chadtosh6831or they were promised jobs that fell out from under them. Or cheaper rent that got hiked. Why are you defending a party of billionaires?

[@chadtosh6831]

@@JonathanSicoli just saying, was no better under the NDP. Same problems, maybe worse then. Those years felt worse to me……. things seem a lot better in the sectors I deal with. Agriculture, forestry and oil and gas. More assurance for your investment under a UCP government.

[@JonathanSicoli]

@@chadtosh6831 Until you get fired when oil prices dip. Alberta has historically been up and down with those. That's been the reason I've been fired from two of my jobs actually. Perhaps if I'd had an experience like yours, I'd be more of a UCP supporter.

[@chadtosh6831]

@@JonathanSicoli cyclical industry that comes with above average wages, but it’s treated members of my family well. But you have to save for the lean times. Too many guys making $250 k a year, but it’s all leveraged into debt. I know lots of them. But you can sure payoff debt and put money in the bank if a guy is sharp about it for sure. Bigger wages seem to come with bigger risk. Lol. Like the bosses I had above me at the pulp mill. Always need a worker, management can be changed on a whim.

[@babsharris6724]

That's BS Poliverre jas already plan.😅

[@onemob]

Jespos bias is obvious as he repeats Con lies. the minimum wage was not doubled under the NDP, but so much for real talk.

[@1898JoeBoyle]

Alberta has the highest volume in immigration from within the Canadian border. This news all came out today. Also had the highest income. So what exactly is Ryan Jespersen talking about? And what is Charles Adler ever talking about? Maybe they should have former BoC governor David Dodge on to discuss the Canadian economy and the declining standard of living. But no, they will choose to talk about leftist talking points.

[@7thpilot]

Exactly!!

[@LastKnight-vt4rd]

Ryan is getting more Leftist everyday, sadly the show has suffered. 10 leftist guests to 1/2 of a conservative once in awhile.

[@mikearchibald744]

No, they are doing the same as right wing media, which is follow the audience, the majority of which is young people on tiktok now. Face it, the money train from 'likes' on right wing social media is fading as reality kicks in. Your comment kind of proves it. The number of people moveing to alberta has nothing to do with any actual advantage. Its clearly linked to housing, and now housing is starting to increase the same as other areas. This is a show about alberta, so it makes sense to play it that way. When they DID have Trudeau on talking about canadian politics, people bitched and moaned. They asked whether the advantage 'was disappearing', not whether it was gone. And likely also they are just prodding people in order to get good comments for their flamethrower episode.

[@7thpilot]

@@mikearchibald744 There is no Right wing just sensible conservatives scrap yourself off the left edge you would see that!!!!!

[@chadtosh6831]

@@mikearchibald744 I dunno. Lots of good paying jobs going unfilled in the oil patch, forestry, and agriculture right now. Truck drivers over $40 per hour, the crane outfit my brother works for is chronically short of operators. $250 k a year job there. Think a lot of people are trying to compete for less high paying city jobs cause they don’t want to work out of the bright lights of the major cities. But they are foregoing a very good living. The pulp mill I used to worked at is chronically understaffed, good wages, benefits and cheap housing in town. I think the Alberta advantage is alive and well, it’s where you choose to live and what you want to do holding people back. They have a highway contractor paving outside of town right now. $30/ hr for being a flag person per hour. Still short staffed. Great job for a college student.

[@shanereese3935]

Less public sector union jobs in Alberta per capita to the rest of the country. Over bloated government jobs that we subsidize in other parts of the country!!! ffs

[@interestedmeow]

The NDP and the Fed Libs happened. Yet still we press on. International investment (outside or real estate) is only happening in Alberta.

[@greentomato929]

Hmm but maybe the economist specifically analyzed this and attributed it to a failed fiscal policy at the provincial level.

[@dwaynewladyka577]

People who can't even vote, try and make the UCP look good, when the UCP have only carried on with the fiscal ineptitude and poor planning that the Alberta PCs did, ever since Peter Lougheed was no longer premier of Alberta.

[@mikearchibald744]

Gee what happened to 'alberta proud'. Now its "other peoples money". Also kind of doubt thats true.

[@SYNERSTAR]

.. did you say that BC has the lowest unemployment rate in canada..? The lumber/pulp sector has been smashed this year, your numbers must be from some other century

[@7thpilot]

Boy Ryan and Johnny had to work over time to find this supposed economist, never seen a guy call 200,000 people moving to Alberta fools, they only came for some of the lowest taxes, No PST, some of lowest rents and housing. Alberta minimum wage 1.50 lower then BC a socialist state. PST+high rent and housing+higher taxes. A lot people who live in BC work back in Alberta. Time to Change the name of the show Ryan always spouting negative like a true NDP, Never and I say Never reporting on the UCP adding Homeless Beds and addiction treatments, higher wages being added for Doctors, Forest Fires all under control, spring rains no drought, so wet in areas they are having trouble getting the crop in. Nurse Practitioners up and running so many good things happening. Maybe shut the show down and run for leader of the NDP party!!!!!

[@mikearchibald744]

Getting crops in in May, thats a new one. FOrest fires under control is 'news' to you? You realize this PALES to what is drummed up daily about Trudeau constantly on social media. The fact is the conservatives started this 'electioneering by social media craziness', at least this is still moderation. Alberta proud is now OPENLY talking about training people to infiltrate parties and stop people from voting. But like I said during the election when Smith was campaigning like the NDP, the population has more clout than people think. If you think peopel should congratulate a Premier who is openly trying to take over municipal governments because doctors are getting paid more, thats your business.

[@user-sm3ii5dk1u]

I would agree completely with you, except I have already received my warning for hate and bullying today lol

[@squatch545]

Nothing you said is actually true. Alberta has the highest rent increases in Canada, the highest insurance rates in Canada, the highest electricity rates in Canada, the highest inflation rate in Canada, the highest rural property crime in Canada, the largest classroom sizes in Canada, the lowest spending on health and education in Canada, and the second longest emergency wait times in Canada. Yes, 200,000 people moving to AB got duped by Danielle Trump's "Alberta is Calling" campaign.

[@mikearchibald744]

Thats classic deflection, criticize a show for what it ISN"T talking about, rather than what they are.

[@RealTalkRJ]

Who'd you like to see on the show, @7thpilot? Do I need to start pointing out every time a guest leans right, so you recognize the guest roster is actually very balanced? -rpj

[@1898JoeBoyle]

Rex Murphy was 1000x the columnist and political commentator Ryan Jesperspn or Charles Adler will ever be. Lol!!!

[@7thpilot]

They didnt even recognize Rex on the show but PP shuts a CBC reporter down with an agenda and they blow a vein!!!!

[@mikearchibald744]

Well, your kind of outing yourself there. But nothing is keeping you here.

[@jamiehjalte]

Rex thought Pierre Trudeau was the greatest Canadian…… kinda lowers his value in my books lol….

[@squatch545]

@@7thpilot So shutting down reporters and critical questions are a good thing to you? Ok Adolf.

[@squatch545]

Rex Murphy was a joke and an embarrassment to most Canadians.