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Almost seven months ago, the federal Liberal government committed $3 billion to top up the wages of frontline workers during the pandemic. Provinces had to match a third of the funding to claim most of the money. And Alberta is the odd one out. #ableg https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-government-leaving-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-for-workers-unclaimed-labour-advocates-say-1.5820440
The federal NDP obtained federal government data showing how much provinces had claimed from the feds' Essential Workers program as of the end of September. Sic provinces had claimed 100 per cent. Every province and territory had claimed at least half - except Alberta. #ableg
As of Sept. 28, Alberta had claimed three per cent of the federal funding, and according to the finance minister's comments in the legislature, it was all no strings attached. Exactly how much Alberta has received to date is unclear. #ableg
The Alberta government will only say they're in negotiations with the federal government, and have secured "tens of millions" of federal funding. However, the documents show $347 million was on the table for Alberta worker wage top ups. #ableg
When questioned about this by the Opposition on Thursday, Finance Minister Travis Toews said he respects frontline workers but, unlike the Opposition, he also respects taxpayers. #ableg
The federal and provincial NDP are baffled: they say if Alberta workers received hundreds of millions in pay, they would pay income taxes on it and spend it in Alberta's battled economy, which could use a little juice. #ableg
Complicating all of this is that the Alberta government is paying a $2/h wage top up to health-care aides who work *only* in private care homes. That has also led to a series of labour disputes, and the AFL says some workers still haven't seen that money https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/labour-disputes-holding-back-wage-top-ups-for-health-care-workers-1.5623092
Another unanswered question is whether the Alberta government would like to use the federal Essential Worker funding to pay itself back for the $7 million it's been spending monthly on those health-care aide top ups. #ableg
Alberta is also projecting a record-setting deficit, so, safe to say the government is counting every penny https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-finance-minister-sees-hopeful-signs-in-latest-fiscal-update-despite-covid-19-pandemic-1.5814795 #ableg
Regarding the employer-specific disputes over the health-care aide top up pay, this government motion has also been sitting on the order paper for months. They haven't debated it yet. #ableg
