Report: Alberta government's amended labour code allows WHL teams to pay players less than minimum wage

Premier of Alberta Jason Kenney’s government has ruled to amend its labour code, giving Alberta-based Western Hockey League teams exemption from employment legislation, according to Rick Westhead of TSN.

This ruling now makes Alberta-based WHL clubs eligible to pay their players below minimum wage, which is currently $15 an hour.

Additionally, Westhead was told by government spokeswoman Brittany Baltimore that the changes to the labour code will “remove uncertainty for major junior hockey team owners.”

TSN reported in an article from 2016 that the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings generated a revenue of $6.6 million while netting a profit of $1.4 million. The Calgary Hitmen were reported to have earned $4.3 million while showing an overall loss of $387,333.

In 2017, it was reported that players in each branch of the CHL — the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and WHL — were granted a stipend of $35 to $125 weekly, according to Dan Robson, previously of Sportsnet.

In 2018, Alberta’s highest court ruled to proceed with a class-action lawsuit by former players against the WHL, which stated players had been paid below minimum wage for 40-65 hours of work a week, according to Global News.

In September of 2019, the WHL asked a Calgary judge to dismiss the lawsuit by former players, according to Rick Westhead of TSN.

More hockey coverage on Yahoo Sports