Community Focus - Moving Forward
Published January 4, 2008
There has been much discussion and activity around the provincial direction reflected in Doug Radke's Capital Region Integrated Growth Management Plan. More
In Reflection: There have been many successes to this point. Extensive planning, cooperation and cost sharing between the municipalities in our region over the past years has resulted in the implementation of dozens of successful inter-municipal projects to provide area residents with safe drinking water; cost-efficient and environmentally responsible wastewater transmission; new major arterial roads such as the Anthony Henday and emergency services programs.
Where to from here: Given the Province's desire to take a greater role in the process of regional collaboration, let us now welcome that involvement and move forward together. By combining and focusing the power and resources of twenty-five municipalities and our Province, we can greatly enhance the quality of life for you - the people represented by both levels of government.
Key areas of focus: To be successful, the Integrated Growth Management Board must build upon the strengths and years of successes of both the Alberta Capital Region Association and Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association (founded and operated by the Counties of Strathcona, Sturgeon, Lamont and the City of Fort Saskatchewan). This Board will have to, in its formative stage, concentrate on:
- planning the progressive development of high level core infrastructure;
- working on a fair and equitable costing formula; and
- agree to abide by objective criteria which will ensure that no municipality has an unfair advantage over the others.
Moving forward: All partners need to ensure that objective criteria are created around the voting formula. The greatest danger is that one mega stakeholder could gain and exercise a veto to manipulate bonafide regional plans and aspirations turning a democratic collaborative partnership into a dictatorship. Significant also is the fact that all twenty-five members do not have a personal stake in the Industrial Heartland, other than the potential revenue it will generate. It will be a huge task to educate the other twenty-four municipalities, large and small, to respect and support the needs of Strathcona County. It will take respect, diligence and a great effort from all municipalities to utilize this process for the greater good of all residents. Part of the formula for success will be achieved by Council working closely with our provincial friends and allies, Iris Evans and Rob Lougheed.
Roxanne Carr
Councillor, Ward 2
780-464-8002
carr@strathcona.ab.ca.
Last updated: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Page ID: 2047