City lays off 1600 workers

Todayville Edmonton

Published

5 years ago

3 minute read

Mayor Don Iveson Tweeted during the press conference headed-up by a tearful Interim City Manager Adam Laughlin – “Temporarily laying off staff was a heart-wrenching decision for the City. Our hope is that when our facilities and attractions reopen, we can welcome staff back and get them to work as soon as possible.”

Here is the full release from City of Edmonton

Recreation centre and library closures lead to 1600 temporary layoffs

March 30, 2020

On March 14, the City of Edmonton closed recreation centres, arenas and leisure centres as part of its efforts to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. That same date, in alignment with the City, the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) closed its 21 branches. As a result of those closures, about 1,600 City and 489 EPL employees who bring those facilities to life will be temporarily laid off.

“COVID-19 is taking a toll on public health, on city services, and now on the jobs of many of our colleagues,” said Interim City Manager Adam Laughlin. “As responsible stewards, we must always ensure value for taxpayer dollars. We cannot continue to pay employees’ salaries while the facilities remain closed and these community programs are not available.”

“This closure has resulted in a drastic reduction in our services. As a result, we have had to make the very difficult decision to initiate temporary layoffs,” said Pilar Martinez, CEO of EPL. “I would like to emphasize I am incredibly proud of every single staff member’s contributions to the Edmonton Public Library, and the impact they make each and every day. This decision in no way reflects their hard work and dedication to EPL.”

Some City staff have been redeployed to other areas, which is reducing the overall impact. Affected staff include full-time and part-time cashiers, fitness instructors, arena attendants, city hall tour guides, art and education instructors, booking clerks, labourers and lifeguards, plus others.

“When it is safe to open facilities again, we will welcome our colleagues back,” Laughlin confirmed. “In the meantime, we will work with staff and our union partners to help affected employees access interim financial assistance.”

Both City and EPL staff who are temporarily laid off will have access to most of their benefits, including mental health supports. They will continue to be included in communications from their employer.

“We have made every effort to approach this unprecedented situation by ensuring we support our staff as much as possible while also balancing organizational needs, our economic reality and fiduciary responsibility as a publicly funded organization,” said Martinez. “While timelines are difficult to predict, we are eager to return to normal EPL operations”.

“It’s important that we continue to treat our temporarily laid-off employees with compassion and care. Every person is important to us and we’ll work with them to support them during this very difficult time,” concluded Laughlin.

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Is There Any Canadian Province More Proud of their Premier Today…

Published on January 21, 2025

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Prior to Trumps inauguration event and announcement was made that Trump would not be imposing the 25% tariffs…

Which means, Canada seriously dodged a bullet here.

And while the Liberals will most likely frame this as, their success in showing, Bad Orange Man, that they’re tough and ready to burn down what is left of our economy, throwing Alberta under the bus, first…through a nuclear option…

Premier Smith rode this challenge out like the true champion we knew that she would be.

It’s hard to say if this was a legality matter in the grander scheme…or if the 25% tariffs would have truly been as big of an impact on the US…

One thing is clear, however…

Smith was ready to go to the tables with the Trump administration and opt for diplomacy over threats…which should be what we expect from our leaders.

And should these 25% tariffs have gone through…I’m more than sure a Plan B would have been brought out in civil conversations, over screeching rhetoric.

“She’s treasonous”, they screeched.

“She’s supporting her friends in Oil and Gas”, they relent.

“She should put Canada first”, they echo…

And let’s just address these…

Is Walmart beholden to Campbells soup? Fruit of the Loom? Kraft?

Or does Walmart sell products that helps keep their doors open?

Walmart is not beholden to any product…just like Premier Smith isn’t. We have 26% of our GDP – the largest portion – owed to Alberta O&G, something that we have a limited trade partner with, due to the Liberal – Anti-Alberta/Anti-O&G/Anti-Pipeline attitude that wants to spend us further in debt with unreliable and expensive “Renewables”.

What does Alberta get from renewables?

A higher cost for energy, in an affordability crisis, created by the same people who continue to push them…sounds like a terrible deal, for Albertans, and something a true leader would Not Favor.

When Walmart sits down to hash out a deal with Heinz, are they committing treason because they haven’t shown their allegiance to their own, ‘Great Value’ brand Ketchup?

No…other provinces have their own industries and resources, which they are free to continue developing independent of the federal government, as is suitable and supportive of their own economies…Alberta isn’t competing with them, nor Canada as a whole.

Alberta through industry and resource, actually supports Canada through a grand imbalance on “Equalization Payments”…

As do we through paying 50% more into the Canada Pension Plan, than we actually get out of the Canada Pension Plan…to the tune of a $334 Billion Dollars.

And as for this “Team Canada”, horseshit…

The title Premier of Alberta, should hold some clues as to who Premier Smith should be advocating for…as she is the Premier of Alberta and Not the Prime Minister, nor leader in the Liberal Party that has created this fiasco, to begin with.

Rail, as they may…other provinces can’t cast a vote in her support, either way…

None of the other provinces, through Members of Parliament, nor through Premiers, came to support Alberta and our economy through a number of Federal Bills that railed on our provincial resources…

Worse yet…these hypocrites cash cheques from our province, while telling us how to diversify our economy…to which I’d state one thing unequivocally…

If we wanted to be a Have Not Province…like you are…we’ll come and ask you for your advice.

Until then…

I’ll hold my Alberta Flag Higher than my Canadian…

And be proud today, of having the only Premier in the country of Canada, worthy of any praise today!