DIDSBURY - The Town of Didsbury will be asking for a two-year extension to pay nearly $45,000 in RCMP retroactive salary costs to the federal government.
The government signed a collective agreement with RCMP regular members and reservists with the National Police Federation in August 2021, which resulted in the retroactive salary increase.
The Town of Didsbury, which has a contract with the RCMP, has received an invoice for $44,843 for its share of the retroactive pay.
“Given the uncertainty surrounding the retroactive pay, the amount was not included in the (town’s 2023) budget,” said chief administrative officer Ethan Gorner. “Therefore administration is seeking council’s approval to pay the invoice and council’s direct to determine the source of funding.”
Municipal government organizations have been calling for the federal government, not municipalities, to cover the cost of the retroactive pay because the municipalities were not involved in the negotiations for the collective agreement.
Administration recommended the retroactive pay come from the town’s $442,590 RCMP operating reserve.
Council members discussed the matter at the recent regularly scheduled meeting.
“The federal government has offered that you can take up to two years to pay it,” said Town of Didsbury Mayor Rhonda Hunter. “While there are some municipalities that are not going to pay the bill but there are many that are.”
Coun. Dorothy Moore said, “How about if we delay this (payment) to a point at least until we hear what is happening elsewhere because we were cautioned not to pay it?”
Mayor Hunter said, “I think it would be beneficial to have more information from Alberta municipalities, not from the body of Alberta Municipalities (Association), but from our colleagues.”
Deputy mayor Curt Engel said, “I think we should just take and leave the money in the bank, draw what little interest they are paying, and in two years when we realize we still have to pay it, we can send it.”
Council carried a motion instructing administration to seek a two-year extension on covering the Town of Didsbury's portion of the retroactive pay increase.
Council carried a second motion asking the Alberta Municipalities to send feedback regarding its members’ position on retroactive salary increases.
During the recent meeting council approved the 2023 municipal enforcement priorities: traffic enforcement; community engagement; unsightly premises; and responsible pet ownership.
All council members attended the recent council meeting, held in person and on YouTube.
Youth centre in the works
The BGC Olds & Area Club is currently working with the Town of Didsbury on the possibility of opening a youth and community outreach centre in the municipality, says club youth and community outreach director Lauren MacMullen.
The club and town have already been working together to host various youth events at local facilities such as the Five-O Club, she noted.
Although a timeline for opening the new centre has not been determined, work and planning is ongoing, she said.
BGC is the new name for the Boys and Girls Club – which started as the Boys Club of Canada in 1947 before becoming the Boys and Girls Club of Canada in 1974.
The club provides many opportunities for young people to get together for indoor and outdoor activities. For example, BGC members were recently involved in Orange Shirt Day activities across the province.
MacMullen says the club plans to post regular social media updates on the youth and community outreach centre project in Didsbury.
