The points about people being paid “what they’re worth” (according to the market) also speaks to another interesting issue, which is the social problems inherent in relying on the market to set things like income. Instead of saying, “let the market decide, and if wages drop such that some people need to have 3 jobs for 5 years tough for them” and “3 low-paid, part-time, no-benefits jobs are better than nothing” another solution is to beef up the social safety net with paid training (in-school and on-the-job) so people, and thus society, can handle market vagaries. A number of European countries have implemented this “flexicurity” model, with great success. By success I mean high country economic competitiveness and low unemployment.
http://www.euractiv.com/en/socialeurope/flexibility-social-security-key-employment-experts-agree/article-144592

As to Alberta having low minimum wage but high actual wages, I think this is very, very likely due to the explosion in jobs (especially traditionally low-income ones like the service industry) from the oil boom. Because of the unusually (and, because resource-based, probably unsustainably) strong labour market there, I’d say it’s anomalous and not a good example.

Adrienne

If you want to see my daily progression:
BlogaDollar.com
Greetings from France John.

P.S I was just kidding. I’ll succeed in blogging. Never let go!

This is not to say I disagree (I agree actually), but there is no need to lower yourself to pub talk and quick conclusions here.

If you are a lawyer, a doctor, an engineer, an architect, a programmer, whatever. You’re job can be sent offshore for less than minimum wage.

Why don’t you wake up from your 1950’s era dream and smell the global coffee.