The RMWB is once again trying to get the northern living allowance back for childcare workers.
Wood Buffalo council met on Tuesday where they approved sending a letter of support to MLA’s Laila Goodridge and Tany Yao.
Speaking on Fort McMurray Matters, Mayor Don Scott says this is about ensuring children continue to get the support they need.
“The best way to do that is to make sure the people who take care of them, the real champions of young people, stay in this region and are paid properly.”
The allowance was canceled by the provincial government at the beginning of July.
In a statement sent to Mix News, Children’s Services Spokesperson Lauren Armstrong says they don’t believe they should subsidize a program that the majority of Albertans can’t access.
“The Northern Allowance for childcare workers was introduced in 2007 in response to a heated economy and extremely high labour demand. Thirteen years later, there is no longer a need to subsidize these less than 50 workers.”
She added wage top-ups and professional development funding will continue to be provided to certified early childhood educators at all Fort McMurray child care centres.
Despite this, Scott believes this won’t be enough to keep workers in the region.
“Are they gonna stay in that field and are they going to leave the region and from what I’m hearing is a lot of people are not considering staying.”
This is the second time the RMWB has asked the province to keep the allowance. Back in March, they passed a similar motion, however, their request was denied.
“So there was that denial but we’re asking them to take another hard look.”
