Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi announced the party's first set of policy commitments on Thursday as part of what they call the 'Alberta Affordability Agenda.' The opposition party promises to cut electricity bills by 10 percent, appoint a grocery watchdog to tackle 'shrink-flation,' and raise the minimum wage to $18 per hour if elected.
Key Commitments
Nenshi highlighted the struggles of families, stating, 'Too many moms tell me that they don't buy grapes for their kids anymore, they just can't afford to. It's not right, it's not fair and we can do things to fix it.'
Alberta NDP critic for affordability and utilities Kyle Kasawski explained that the electricity bill reduction would involve a 'coordinated effort' across the entire electrical system, working with stakeholders to stabilize the market and make bills more affordable.
Grocery Watchdog and Fair Pricing
The proposed grocery watchdog would scrutinize pricing practices to ensure Albertans receive fair prices. It would also require transparent labeling on products to crack down on manufacturers charging the same price for less product—a practice known as 'shrink-flation.' Kasawski added, 'We will also abolish the anti-competitive real estate covenants that big grocery chains currently use to limit and prevent nearby competition.'
Additional Promises
- Expanding the Attainable Homes Calgary program province-wide to provide down payment assistance for first-time home buyers
- Making it easier to cancel subscriptions
- Helping Albertans buy their first home faster
- Removing the provincial gas tax while prices remain high
- Protecting servers' tips
The Alberta NDP stated that more commitments will be announced in the coming months.
