Alberta NDP pledges 10% power bill cut, $18 minimum wage
Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi unveiled the party's affordability platform, including a grocery watchdog and expanded first-time home buyer support.
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The Alberta NDP has outlined its first major policy commitments ahead of the next provincial election, targeting cost-of-living pressures that residents cite regularly.
Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi announced Thursday the party would cut electricity bills by 10 per cent, raise minimum wage to $18 an hour, and create a grocery watchdog to investigate pricing practices and "shrink-flation" — charging the same price for less product.
"Too many moms tell me that they don't buy grapes for their kids anymore, they just can't afford to," Nenshi said. "It's not right, it's not fair and we can do things to fix it."
NDP critic for affordability Kyle Kasawski said the party would work with stakeholders across the electrical system to stabilize the market and lower bills. The grocery watchdog would require transparent labelling on products and abolish anti-competitive real estate covenants that big grocery chains use to block nearby competitors.
Other pledges include making the Attainable Homes Calgary down-payment assistance program province-wide, removing the provincial gas tax while prices remain high, making subscription cancellations easier, and protecting server tips. The party said more commitments will come in the coming months.