Does Alberta have a wildland firefighter ‘retention problem?’
Global News
The wildland firefighters' union says Alberta has a retention problem. A firefighter points to 'absurdly short contract lengths,' having to reapply each year and inexperience.
The wildland firefighters’ union says Alberta has an under-staffed and under-trained wildfire force due to a recruitment and retention problem.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says high turnover means wildland firefighters are leaving Alberta for similar jobs in B.C. or with Parks Canada, where they can make more money, and have more benefits and stability.
“The exodus has been pretty strong from Alberta to B.C. recently, as well as to Parks Canada,” said firefighter Charlie.
Charlie has been a wildland firefighter for nearly 10 years, the majority of which he worked for Alberta Wildfire. He recently moved to a different province. Global News has agreed not to identify him because he’s concerned about possible job repercussions. Charlie is a pseudonym.
“Alberta is described by many in the program as kind of a sinking ship… The shortfall of Alberta nowadays I would say it’s primarily… retention.”
It’s not a new issue, he added.
“They like to toot their horn at the start of this season…about how they’re hiring 100 new firefighters or whatever the number is, but that’s irrelevant. Two guys with a ton of experience are far more useful than 20 guys with zero experience,” Charlie said.
The AUPE says half of seasonal Alberta workers don’t return the next year. And that’s happening year after year, said one of the union’s regional vice presidents.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
B.C.'s first blast of summer-like weather has triggered weather advisories for much of the southern part of the province as well as air quality advisories linked to wildfires.
Gabriella Patey, 31, was initially told her breast tumour was benign. Later, she was told she had terminal cancer. A third call informed her it was all a terrible mistake.
Physicians criticized the move to oust members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which reports to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Air quality has improved in much of Quebec and Ontario, but wildfire smoke continues to affect parts of the Prairies, northern Ontario, and eastern Quebec.
The judges referred the lawyers in both cases to their professional regulators, but did not take more serious action.
Health Canada has issued a warning to consumers not to inhale nitrous oxide for recreational purposes as instances are on the rise and carry many health risks, including death.
The spiny creature found itself in Kelowna earlier this week, after the wreckage of a plane it had nested in was transported to the Okanagn from northern B.C.
Some of crypto’s key characteristics help explain why wealthy individuals who hold a lot of digital assets can be ripe targets for such attacks.
Tens of thousands of window-mounted air conditioner units are being recalled in Canada, with the federal government warning some affected units have a risk of mould growth.
The video was taken on Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Terrace shows a black bear family, including a young spirit bear, heading into the forest.
The B.C. government says a decade-old environmental assessment certificate remains valid for the construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C.
Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says an infant born prematurely and infected with measles has died in southwestern Ontario.
Teva Canada Ltd. said it received a complaint that a package contained an extra row of the placebos when there should be only one row of white placebo pills.