Local MLA debriefs year with county council

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Chantelle de Jonge debriefed with Wheatland County councilors, recapping the successes and provincial funding sources which were acquired throughout the year.

She made her presentation during the Dec. 16 meeting, largely speaking about ongoing relationships between county organizations, businesses and ongoing funding allocations.

“There was a total of $7.8 million that was invested by the province for infrastructure upgrades and that included Township Road 250 and 222, and that will support the truck traffic to and from the CGC’s plant,” she said. “I think that’s a really important and also a really good place where the county and the province can work together to support these businesses that are investing in rural Alberta.”

De Jonge also noted the Wildflower reservoir pumping upgrade, which was approved in the amount of $731,000, as well as the Western Irrigation District receipt of $1.7 million for irrigation upgrades. $50,000 was allocated by the province for Wheatland County’s study to look at increased raw water storage.

She noted two grants which were distributed to the county, as well as the Carseland and District Agricultural Society, totaling $250,000 for the purpose of supplementing rural economic development.

Another $5 million was distributed to the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society to support the construction of their Western Events and Cultural Center to be constructed in Wheatland County. 

“It’s a huge investment in rural Alberta and in the county, and in this entire region,” she said. “I’m very excited about that and excited to see progress on that project.”

The province supported the True North Society for both their transitional housing project, as well as their outgoing education and prevention efforts in the amount of $3.6 million.

The province is also working with the Golden Hills School Division to support the replacement of Westmount Elementary with an expanded K-9 facility.

“On healthcare, we had a great event in the summer with two of the parliamentary secretaries on the health file where we toured the Strathmore Hospital, we met with doctors … we had a full day of stakeholder meetings with both town and county residents to talk about what their health care priorities are and how we can better support the residents of this region,” she said. “There were a lot of great takeaways there and some great improvements since then and county residents are going to see an improvement and will have been seeing an improvement in their access to primary care already because we welcomed three new doctors to the town this year and a new clinic.”

Prior to her presentation, de Jonge noted her desire to make such debriefs an annual occasion, also aiming to establish a time for discussion and questions between herself and county council members.