All eyes are on us : Public scrutiny of N.L. s Fort McMurray workers intensifies
As COVID-19 rages across Alberta, it has never been more dangerous for Newfoundland and Labrador s rotational workers to fly for shifts in the oilsands camps around Fort McMurray. The workers face threats both on the job and at home, with one family telling CBC News they re at their wits end dealing with stigma.
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The RMWB is declaring a State of Local Emergency over the rising cases of COVID-19.
Wood Buffalo council held a special meeting on Sunday where they passed a motion to have the Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Emergency Management bring forward recommendations at their scheduled meeting on Tuesday.
They didn’t outline any potential recommendations, though they note they could include measures aimed at reducing the spread.
The region remains the worst in the province when it comes to spread of the virus. The RMWB is averaging nearly 1,320 cases per 100,000 individuals.
The closest is Banff which is averaging nearly 140 fewer cases per 100,000 people.
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The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has hired a Parkland County councillor to its Indigenous and Rural Relations department.
In an email, the municipality confirmed AnnLisa Jensen, a Parkland County councillor since 2013, has been full-time employee since at least March. She has already represented the municipality in meetings.
Jensen has not resigned her Parkland County council seat or confirmed if she will run for reelection in October. Jensen did not return multiple phone calls and emails from either the Fort McMurray Today or the Spruce Grove Examiner/Stony Plain Reporter.
The Municipal Governance Act does not prevent elected officials from working for different jurisdictions or municipalities, said McKenzie Kibler, spokesperson for interim municipal affairs minister Ric McIver.
RMWB hires Parkland County councillor to Indigenous and Rural Relations department prrecordgazette.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from prrecordgazette.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Author of the article: Vincent McDermott
Publishing date: Apr 08, 2021 • 18 hours ago • 3 minute read • Tany Yao, UCP MLA for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, speaks at the park bench dedication to victims and survivors of crime in Snye Park on May 31, 2019. Laura Beamish/Fort Mcmurray Today/Postmedia Network ORG XMIT: POS1907241732112083 ORG XMIT: POS2007141422008341 ORG XMIT: POS2008111816054086 SunMedia
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Local UCP MLAs Laila Goodridge and Tany Yao say the province’s recent COVID-19 shutdown orders are necessary to keep Alberta’s health-care system from getting overwhelmed, after a quarter of the UCP caucus publicly protested the restrictions on Wednesday.
In separate statements, Goodridge and Yao acknowledged the restrictions are unpopular among many Albertans. But, they defended them as necessary to protect hospitals as variant cases rise.