During the M.D. of Bonnyville’s council meeting on February 28th council defeated a motion to research opportunities to get Ukrainian refugees into the M.D.
The motion was to allocate $30,000 annually for a Council-approved support program until the crisis in Ukraine stopped. The motion was presented by councilor Don Slipchuk during the February 14 meeting to talk about options to assist Ukrainian families and was brought back on February 28th.
The money would have gone towards a variety of places like rental rates for the families or towards charities. One thing highlighted during the discussion at the council meeting is the benefits of bringing in workers to fill gaps.
Councillor Dana Swigart suggested the possibility of looking around the Lakeland as seeing what has already worked with Vegreville. Swigart says Vegreville has brought in 64 families living with households.
“I was thinking that would be a good program in the Municipality. There is probably families that would love to host.” “I think it is maybe a better way of doing it and somehow organise a charity that would allow that and make these contacts.”
He says he did have a concern about just putting a number out there without a plan. Deputy Reeve Ben Fadeyiw said the province has done a fast-tracking immigration program that looks to get 33,000 more workers to Alberta by 2025 backed by approximately $2.1 million in funding. Councillor Josh Crick says he is unsure if this is the M.D.’s responsibility.
“I think it’s more of a charity issue, and as Deputy Reeve Fadeyiw said there was provincial programming.”
In the Alberta Budget 2023 $27.3 million in funding was expanded to help support evacuees in Budget 2023.
Council voted 5-2 against the motion with Councillor Mike Krywiak and Councillor Don Slipchuk voting for the draft.