UCP plan to top-up frontline workers wages reportedly not approved yet by feds
Posted Feb 11, 2021 3:08 pm.
Last Updated Feb 11, 2021 3:09 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – It turns out the nearly $500 million plan to provide bonuses to frontline workers still needs final approval from Ottawa
The federal government has confirmed to 660 NEWS they are still reviewing the proposal from Alberta and have not supplied the cash yet.
In a statement, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said that “federal funding is determined by the amount requested by each province and territory, up to a maximum allocation. It is up to each province and territory to determine which workers are eligible to receive a top-up and how much they receive.”
However, the UCP government claim the funding was indeed approved on Tuesday, a day before the announcement was made.
On Wednesday, Premier Jason Kenney the government was supplying around $$465 million to support frontline workers in the province. The support is being offered through a one time payment of $1,200 for public and private sector workers.
It comes after the federal government announced last spring, it would be providing millions of dollars in wage top-ups for essential workers working the frontlines during the pandemic.
However, a recent report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives stated that six out of 10 provinces haven’t spent all the money the federal government has sent their way, including for things like personal protective equipment (PPE).
The report also showed that Alberta had the most money left unused at almost $336 million.
