Our responsibility - social sustainability
At our March 27 Council Meeting, Council approved Strathcona County's Social Sustainability Framework. This report is a high level overview of the social component within our community and the responsibility we, as a Community and as a Council, have toward it. It is not a definitive action plan but rather a framework for leaping forward and making decisions that will ensure we become a socially sustainable community.
The Framework recognizes four guiding principles that would be our path to social sustainability:
- Social Inclusion
- Community Connectedness
- Social Responsibility
- Health and Well Being
Strathcona County strives to be a sustainable community. In striving for that goal, we try to balance our decision making process having regard for the social, economic and environmental components of the community. Thus, we endeavour to improve the quality of life for both existing and future generations.
In past years the roles of various levels of government have become blurred when dealing with social issues. Customarily, municipal governments have not been deeply involved in dealing with major social issues. The report identified that "current research points to the importance of local governments playing a larger role in social issues in order to benefit individuals and advance healthy communities".
The report of course goes into a depth beyond which I can explain in a column. It poses many interesting questions and provides some amazing statistics and reflections on our Community. For example, 87.3 per cent of people surveyed indicated they would give part of their income if they knew the money would be used to help people in need.
As can be expected, come the time decisions have to be made, there will be a financial cost. The questions I suppose many would ask - Is it our responsibility to be socially inclusive? Do I (we) have to pay? On the first question, it is my belief that we have to be socially inclusive. We live in a society that reaps many rewards and I have a social conscience for those less fortunate. Figures in the survey lead me to believe that a great many in the community would agree with me. As to cost, that is a matter that this and future Councils will have to wrestle with.
This report is an important and vital document as to how this community will plan to evolve itself over the next few years. I would strongly encourage residents to read this document and take in all it has to offer. You may be surprised.
Social Sustainability Framework (PDF) 720 KB
Peter Wlodarczak
Councillor, Ward 4
780-464-8146
wlodarczak@strathcona.ab.ca
Last updated: Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Page ID: 1968