Alberta government terminating Melcor Centre lease in 2025
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on June 25, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
A decision by the Alberta government to not renew its lease of offices at the downtown Melcor Centre in three years is not enough, suggests the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
The AUPE wants the province to find a new work space immediately for the safety of workers and the public, says AUPE vice-president Darren Graham.
Graham said Thursday a location such as the vacant Save-On Foods building in north Lethbridge could be a possibility for the province rather than waiting until May 2025 to move.
There are more than 250 AUPE members working for the government and Alberta Health Services at the Melcor Centre which has experienced numerous floods over the years including one in the last two weeks.
The latest one is at least the fourth this year, according to Graham.
“The problem is even though they’ve come to the decision that they’re not going to be renewing their lease at Melcor anymore, the kick is there that the government’s lease doesn’t expire until May of 2025. They’re looking for alternative accommodations for the workers and the clients in the meantime but we’re saying we need to speed it up because we can’t have people staying at that building for nearly another three years,” said Graham from Red Deer.
“The building’s old, the structure’s old…we feel that it’s a dangerous building,” he said.
More mould has been found, which was remediated, he added.
“We’re hoping to get out of there sooner, even that old Save-On Foods by London Drugs would be a great location because it puts us close to the clients that we service. I think there’s a few alternatives if people start to get creative and look at things,” Graham added.
He said the union is in contact with AHS and while the province has stated it won’t renew its lease “Alberta Health Services hasn’t come forward and said anything like that yet,,” said Graham.
“We’re not totally certain of when their lease term is up either,” Graham added.
“We want to make sure that we have a safe space for not only our workers but any of the public going there to receive services.”
Earlier this spring, the AUPE said there have been eight floods in the building since 2014 as well as a mould problem. Mice, silverfish and black widow spiders have also been seen in the building.
Some floods have caused ceiling tiles to collapse on workspaces, says the union.
Formerly known as Lethbridge Centre, the building’s name was changed to Melcor Centre in 2018. It has transitioned over the years from a retail mall to a centre housing health and professional services.
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So why didn’t former AUPE employee and current MLA Shannon Phillips rectify this situation when she was the government between 2015-2019. Wait unit she could blame the UCP?? Unacceptable. She should resign.