The panel is tasked with advising whether the wage for alcohol servers should be cut back, as well as consolidating existing studies on the effects of a minimum-wage increase under Alberta's former NDP government.

The new $13-per-hour minimum wage applies to workers aged 13 to 17. 

Stampede organizers decided to stick with $15 for everyone this year, given the timing of the government's changes.

Earlier this week, the union learned students who work as pages for the Edmonton Public Library would face a pay reduction in line with new provincial minimum wage rules which go into effect June 26.

Members of the Alberta legislature were up through the night as the NDP staged a filibuster over proposed changes to labour legislation.

Some Alberta businesses are vowing to continue paying all their employees $15 or more an hour, even after Alberta's minimum wage changes kick in later this year.

“It will create a competitive advantage for a high school student over perhaps their university counterpart,” said Trevor Lewington, CEO of Economic Development Lethbridge.

Alberta is cutting the minimum wage for young workers and making other changes to overtime, holiday pay and votes for union certification.

Kenney says the United Conservatives would roll back Alberta's $15-an-hour minimum wage to $13 an hour for those 17 or younger.

Alberta United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney says if his party wins power it will seriously consider bringing in changes to reduce the minimum wage for youth and for alcohol servers.