Alberta WHL players lose minimum wage benefit

EDMONTON- Players on Alberta’s five Western Hockey League teams will no longer be legally entitled to a minimum wage after the province amended its labour code.

The United Conservative government says it has redefined the players as “amateur athletes” instead of employees to align with other Canadian jurisdictions including Saskatchewan, B.C. and Washington State.

But the World Association of Ice Hockey Players Unions says the change strips away the rights of young workers who desperately need the same protection afforded to all other workers.

The change, that takes effect in January, was made through an order in council, which does not require a vote in the provincial legislature.