Former City of Regina workers sue city over termination, pay

Two former City of Regina employees are suing the city over their termination and payments related to it.

Audra Young and Ly Pham filed civil suits against the City of Regina on July 4, both alleging the city breached their respective fixed-term employment contracts.

Young was the director of Indigenous relations and community development, while Pham was the chief of staff to former City Manager Niki Anderson, who was fired by city council last week.

The two were dismissed on April 30, the same time Anderson went on leave for “personal reasons”, according to Mayor Chad Bachynski.

Audra Young began working with the City of Regina in February 2022. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

According to court documents, Pham’s contract as chief of staff was set to last from March 1, 2023, to Feb. 29, 2028, while Young’s was to run from Feb. 7, 2022, to Feb. 25, 2027.

The documents stated that Pham began working with the city in December 2021 and was later promoted to chief of staff. Young began working with the city on February 7, 2022.

“As a result of the defendant’s (City of Regina) breach of the plaintiff’s (Pham) fixed-term employment contract, the plaintiff has lost employment remuneration and other employment benefits she would have otherwise received during the fixed term of her employment contract up to February 29, 2028,” read the statement of claim.

Young’s statement used similar language.

In an emailed statement to 980 CJME, the City of Regina said it was aware of the lawsuits, but had no further comment as the matter was before court.

Young and Pham are being represented by lawyer George A. Green of McKercher LLP.

The two will be seeking damages “for terminating the plaintiff in breach of her fixed-term employment contract in an amount to be proven at trial.”

They are also seeking to claim the costs of this action on a solicitor/client basis.

980 CJME reached out to Green for comment, but he declined.