I was an employment worker for about eight years, and the first thing employers ask in Alberta is if they can pay a person less than the minimum wage. That's just a reality. I don't think the Alberta labour standards or regulations are strong enough. The labour standards vary from province to province.
We need national support to encourage employment, because a lot of people would like to have something to do with their day. Volunteer work is an option for some people. Some people can't work and choose not to work, but for those people who want to contribute to society, we need the strength of the national government to support those efforts.