The Mayors have met informally to discuss a number of issues facing the metro region specifically over the past few months. The decision to proceed with the Panel was made recently and the group sought out strong Panel members over the past month. We are very pleased with the quality of community leaders who have agreed to participate.

Each municipality has committed $15,000 dollars together with a further contribution based on the formula used by the CRB to calculate the financial contribution of each municipality. A maximum budget has been set of $600,000 to cover all costs over the next six months.

None at all. This is one of several informal alliances in the region. Mayors from other counties, cities and towns are part of these other alliances, as well as being members of the CRB. Some examples are: * The five counties * The Tri Municipal working relationship between Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Parkland * Sturgeon Regional Partnership * Intermunicipal Affairs Committee Working Relationship * Heartland Housing Foundation

The questions posed to the Panel are intentionally broad. The Mayors have not limited the Panel’s discussion and we have made it clear that democratic processes and community identities will be respected as we move forward. We need to pull back and look at the metro region over the next 30 to 50 years. We need to ask what we should do now in order to make it competitive over time. What will allow us to attract and retain jobs and people, provide a high quality of life and manage the social and environmental realities of growth as a metro area? We have kept the questions clear and straightforward: * Is a globally competitive Edmonton Metro Region achievable? What does success look like? * What is required to get there? What are the key success factors? * What needs to be different to achieve these results?

This is a strong Panel – and we expect timely and frank advice from it. The Hyndman report was decades ago. Times have changed significantly and the Mayors believe this a good point in our history to take stock and assess the potential of the Edmonton metro region. We have learned a great deal throughout the CRB’s history; global economies are changing; and there has been some positive collaboration across the metro region that we can build further on now. We are confident we will get constructive, forward-looking, input that will be useful as the metro region makes decisions about its future.

The Panel will take the broad strategic questions set by the Mayors and develop frank and thoughtful advice on how to maximize the attributes of the metro Edmonton region for the next 30 to 50 years.

This started as an informal group and its discussions have been ongoing for some time. We will keep the Mayors of neighbouring communities up to speed on the Panel’s process. In the end, we will share any work that is done before final decisions are made and we will ensure that the work benefits the region as a whole.

This Panel will provide neutral, third party advice to the Mayors. It is unencumbered by any particular political or municipal bias. These are strong, credible individuals who can bring thoughtful advice forward. They can take a fresh look from many diverse perspectives.

There has been some very good progress made by the CRB but there are a number of significant issues and opportunities specific to the metro area. For example, the unique challenges and opportunities of the interface between larger urbanized municipalities and rural settings. This group of Mayors also understands that organizations like the CRB have a fully committed workload now, as well as a broader regional mandate.

Once the Panel’s work is done, the public will have access to the final report and to all the presentations made by experts. But the work of the Panel will not be in public. The Panel will have a large volume of information to work through – and will make the most productive use of their time by being focused as a working group. The public will be involved in discussions on the Panel’s report and recommendations once they are received by the Mayors and Councils.