New Municipal Minister faces challenges

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley appointed MLA for Leduc-Beaumont, Shayne Anderson, as the new Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister.
“I know over the past few years you have seen a number of new faces in this role and I want to assure you that I am committed to finishing the work Minister Larivee and our government has started,” stated Minister Shayne Anderson, in a letter to Alberta municipalities. “As one of the co-sponsors for the Modernized Municipal Government Act, I am deeply involved in the work of this ministry and am humbled to take on a portfolio that impacts the lives of every single person in our province.”
The former Minister of Municipal Affairs, Danielle Larivee, has moved to head up the new Ministry of Children’s Services.
Wheatland County council might be pleased to have the rural perspective of the new minister in current Calgary Metropolitan Regional Growth issues.They sent a letter for his consideration as of Jan. 31, concerning their reservations about portions of the mandatory participation in the Calgary Metropolitan Regional Growth board (CMRG).
“Wheatland County wishes to bring to the Minister’s attention the drastic contrast between planning requirements, to accommodate growth within the rural agricultural municipality of Wheatland County and the City of Calgary and urban centres within the city’s servicing area,” stated Wheatland County Reeve Glenn Koester in the letter to the Minister.
Koester went on to lay out reasonable facts of why the county had concerns about the process. He noted that Wheatland County is currently participating in the board, but there are serious considerations that council addressed in the mandate.
He identified that growth accommodations contrast drastically between urban and rural areas, and the decisions made by the board will challenge both city charters and municipal governance.
Wheatland County is 16 km away from Calgary’s closest boundary, and Statistics Canada puts Wheatland’s population growth rate at 2.2 per cent, compared to more adjacent communities between 11 and 49 per cent. Koester stated that Calgary housing starts in one day exceed Wheatland’s yearly count. Large amounts of undeveloped land are available around the Town of Strathmore, even before development would reach areas of Wheatland County, and Koester speculates population growth issues won’t affect Wheatland County for another decade.
Koester said Wheatland County has always extended a hand of cooperation to its neighbours, through intercommunity agreements and partnerships, and feels this process has served well in the past.
He pointed out that residents voice the importance of the preservation of rural economic and cultural priorities in Wheatland County. In previous council meetings, Wheatland ratepayers have stressed that agreement needs to ensure conservation of agricultural lands.
According to Koester, there is a deep concern by rural citizens and individual municipalities that no due process is available under the board’s current mandated voting and veto process. Rural residents are not trusting that their interests won’t be overrun by someone representing urban interests. Verbal battles incurred in the past, between Calgary politicians designs on adjacent community interests. Speculation in the rural areas is that the move is more about appropriating land for residential, commercial and industrial purposes leading to added tax dollars, or providing unneeded services, for which they must pay.
For rural participants to collaborate in a fair and equitable discussion, Koester suggests one vote for each municipal member, rather than voting based on population density; and a veto allowed each municipality. He outlined guidelines could include proxy votes, allowances for absent votes and measures for submission of statutory plans.
He encouraged the Minister to establish measures for community engagement, open and transparent access for the public and methods for sharing information between voting partners.
Koester said residents have a constitutional right for fair representation by those they elect. Residents would oppose actions that would negatively affect their livelihood, community decision making, cultural differences and economic benefits that are currently in place without an imposed system that limits that representation. Splitting half of Wheatland County (west of Hwy 21) makes fair representation challenging and inequitable.
Koester suggested the Minister take measures to ensure that similar challenges and opportunities are available for both urban and rural communities in discussions, and coordinated investment in infrastructure and service delivery is available to all.
Koester suggests the development of a 20-plus year servicing plan and extend preparation from two to five years, which will eliminate conflicts existing in inter-municipal agreements. He suggests limiting the board’s interactions to core services that represent the needs of all participating parties, not requiring financial investment by non-benefitting members, and stressing long-term sustainability needs to reflect both urban and rural municipal needs.
Development matters must respect landowner rights. Koester suggests maintaining identified Wheatland County growth areas, as much time, money and consideration has gone into their establishment.
There are many wetlands in Wheatland County and those environmentally sensitive areas are covered by provincial policies and legislation to protect them. Koester encouraged the Minister to consider competitive bidding by private service providers to give the best dollar return for taxpayers. He also requested the board be provincially funded.
The Town of Chestermere has sent a letter of support to the Minister regarding Wheatland County’ concerns. Town of Strathmore’s Coun. Denise Peterson requested a letter of support also be sent; however, the letter has not returned to council for approval and may be too late to be considered in changes.