New regional board major event of 2007
Published January 11, 2008
Happy New Year to everyone! This is my first opportunity to submit an article since being re-elected in October, 2007. I am very humbled and thankful for being granted the opportunity to again represent Ward 3 on Strathcona County Council.
2007 was a year to remember! Strathcona County hosted another great event, the Western Canada Summer Games over a 12 day period in August. With the participation of many athletes, the public, organizers and of course, volunteers, this event was a spectacular success.
October 15th was the municipal election. An additional ward was created to reflect our growing population for a total of eight wards. Only thirty-three percent of eligible voters exercised their right to vote in the election of eight Councillors and our Mayor-at-Large.
In 1996 Strathcona was designated as a specialized municipality due to its unique blend of urban and rural areas. The County consists of the large urban hamlet of Sherwood Park, an extensive rural area and eight rural hamlets; Antler Lake, Ardrossan, Collingwood Cove, Half Moon Lake, Hastings Lake, Josephburg, North Cooking Lake and South Cooking Lake.
During the past year our neighbours to the west raised a number of issues regarding our new Municipal Development Plan and new hospital which resulted in a hearing before the Municipal Government Board which has commenced and now, has been adjourned at the request of Edmonton to a date sometime late in March, 2008. The County has continued to support regional cost sharing projects such as Anthony Henday Drive, the Edmonton Humane Society, the River Valley Alliance and many others without much recognition of our efforts. Despite all our efforts to be a good neighbour and to remain a self-governing autonomous municipality, our future is being caught up in a new regional growth management board approved by the Government of Alberta. The new regional board is being created pursuant to the recommendations contained in the Radke Report. Premier Ed Stelmach accepted the majority of the recommendations in the report on December 18, 2007.
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A new "superboard" will shortly be created to oversee many of the activities of the Capital Region's twenty-five municipalities. The City of Edmonton alone will in essence have a veto authority over all regional decision making. Is this new regional authority necessary? No. Edmonton could have remained as a member of the Alberta Capital Region Alliance and provided input into the principal area of dispute, the regional organization's voting structure.
Also we, as Strathcona County Council, should have met with Edmonton City Council, just as we meet with many of our other neighbours. We do need to communicate with each other on issues such as light rail transit and roadways. We do need to work together on social issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, community safety and health care. When common purposes can be identified, joint approaches to the Province of Alberta for specific funding have a greater chance of success. Why steal from Peter to give to Paul when Moses has the money?
Where do we go from here? We work hard, together, and with your voice raised to our provincial politicians we can ensure Strathcona County continues to be the community of choice to many people. Your voice is vital! This Capital Region is powerful! Let us not divide and conquer. The solution is in visioning and communicating together.
Linda Osinchuk
Councillor, Ward 3
464-8149
osinchuk@strathcona.ab.ca
Last updated: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Page ID: 1977