Letters to the Editor, Oct. 5, 2025: ‘Troubled times for many Albertans’

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Tough sledding

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The average salary in Alberta is approximately $50,631 annually. Alberta’s minimum wage of $15/hour is the lowest in Canada. In order to make ends meet, many Albertans have been forced to work a full-time and a part-time job. All working Albertans are facing continual mounting pressures and challenges within the workplace. The vast majority have no pension plan, no benefits, no job security, work long hours, have received no pay increase in years, and are limited to two or three weeks vacation time. As a result of their limited income, many working Albertans have been forced to turn to the food bank in order to feed their family. Maybe it’s time that some of our more fortunate workers begin to see the glass half-full rather than half-empty.

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BOB CUTLER

(Things are definitely adding up quickly for many Albertans)

Who’s out of touch?

In response to the letter of Oct. 1 that Alberta teachers are out of touch with Albertans, I would say he is the one who is out of touch. Teachers are paid a salary and often work late at night and weekends marking exams and lesson planning, so before you criticize, maybe get the real facts. From the father of a great, hard-working teacher.

LEROY BANGEN

(The sooner this gets worked out, the better, for everyone.)

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No more unions

When I grew up there were no public service unions. People who chose to be teachers or government workers considered their careers a public service and they accepted the salaries and compensation that the government offered. There was no bargaining, no negotiating, and no public service strikes. The time has come to return to this model and understanding of public service. Our government must be fully accountable and responsible to the people of the province, and free to determine the conditions of employment with the public service.

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IAIN FOULDS

(Removing public sector unions may not have the result you expect)

Losing ventures

In my opinion, all this talk about getting rid of Canada Post is misguided. But taxpayers are subsidizing it to the tune of $1.2 billion annually, you say! It certainly is a lot of money, in fact, it’s almost as much as we spend subsidizing the CBC ($1.5 billion). The difference, of course, is that Canada Post provides services to 40 million Canadians, while the CBC is watched by less than 2% of Canadian viewers. Should we get rid of all government agencies and Crown corporations that lose money? If so, what would that leave? While some changes will have to be made to Canada Post, now is not the time to eliminate it altogether.

RICK MAILLOUX

(The changes Ottawa recently announced will not be enough to save Canada Post. As for the CBC, that funding will never be reduced as long as the Liberals are in power)

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