The City of Grande Prairie is exploring options for city councillors to gain Parental Leave and Bereavement Leave.
According to city administration’s recent reports, several other municipalities with populations similar to Grande Prairie, allow for Parental Leave including the City of St. Albert, Spruce Grove, and Sherwood Park.
Most of the terms of leave in Alberta Municipalities that allow Parental Leave include a maximum of 26 weeks, with some being up to 16 weeks. Additionally, all municipalities require six weeks of written notice, and include some level of remuneration based on several factors.
The reason for a potential change varies amongst Grande Prairie councillors, with Councillor Dylan Bressey saying a switch could motivate some younger people to run for office, with the confidence they can still manage the early stages of parenthood.
Some councillors hesitated to discuss the matter, with Councillor Gladys Blackmore citing a lack of information to form an opinion; however, the councillor says she remains open to discussing the matter further, provided city administration comes back with a more in-depth report.
Any changes would require council to establish a bylaw to allow for Parental Leave. Council’s Investment and Strategy Committee agreed to receive the report for information, and the matter will be discussed further at a later council meeting.
