The legislation required to gradually raise the minimum wage in Alberta to $15.00 an hour has passed, meaning it will be raised to $12.20 and an hour this October, boosted by $1.40 an hour again in October 2017 and finally in October 2018.

The NDP's goal of raising the wage was to reduce poverty, and have the extra cash flow contribute to the economy, but some Cochrane business owners can't disagree more.

Owner of Heavenly Outhouse Karrie Peace says the government is not focusing on the important economic issues Alberta is facing.

"Studies are showing that jumping up to that $15.00 rate does not impact poverty in a meaningful way, the money has to come from somewhere, so prices go up, and jobs will be lost," she says. "If you look at the majority of minimum wage earners, a very high percentage of them are students living at home with their parents. Instead of looking at innovative ways to help business ride the wave, they're putting effort into doing something like this."

Peace shares she's not happy about the increases, and frankly doesn't think they make any sense.

"They can't just magically cure everything by doing something like that, because the money has to come from somewhere. If prices go up, the people who really are working at minimum wage trying to support children, when they go get groceries and clothing, and the prices have gone up are they any farther ahead? This is the question that needs to be asked."

She says it's not just small business who will be affected by this, big box stores will feel a pinch too because they employ so many people.

Peace is now worried workers in minimum wage positions will lack incentive to improve, or perform well.

"The impact too is the people who perform really well who are already at $15.00 and hour, how do you afford to differentiate their wage from the people just starting in retail with little experience?"

Peace thinks the lack of foresight from the NDP government is shocking, as 4000 businesses closed their doors in Alberta last quarter, however, she says she'll ride the increase out and do what it takes to make it happen.