By Adam Ophus

Council not on board

Clearwater County showing no interest in regionalization with Rocky Mountain House

Jun 23, 2020 | 1:46 PM

Councillors with Clearwater County say they’re not on board with being part of a new regional government with the Town of Rocky Mountain House.

On May 26, the Town of Rocky Mountain House sent a letter to Minister of Municipal Affairs Kaycee Madu asking to help move things forward with regionalization, stating that it will help “achieve the greatest efficiency of resources and effectiveness of government.”

The letter claimed that the communities have been divided into wealthy versus poor and rural against urban for too long. The Town concluded by saying, “It is time for municipalities and the provincial government to work collectively and in cooperation.”

During Tuesday’s Clearwater County council meeting, councillors discussed whether merging as the Town of Rocky Mountain House is lobbying to do would be in the best interest of county residents.

Councillor Cammie Laird took notice that in the Town of Rocky’s letter to the minister, the county was not copied.

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“We have been very good partners,” Laird said, adding that she doesn’t see why this letter was sent.

Councillor John Vandermeer said he didn’t want to see any further discussion of that nature until all regional agreements have been finalized, such as the recently completed fire service agreement.

Clearwater County is also currently in the midst of talks with the Village of Caroline for a possible amalgamation.

Council decided to send their own letter to Minister Madu, MLA Jason Nixon and Premier Jason Kenny stating that they already work well with the Town and that they do not want regionalization with Rocky Mountain House.

Although the Rural municipalities of Alberta (RMA) isn’t in full support of regionalization, six arguments in support of regionalization from past studies were given.

The document suggests province-wide restructuring will produce the fairest results in that larger regions will attract investment by limiting tax rate and service level inconsistencies, investment would be attracted by reducing red tape, disparities between “have” and “have-not” municipalities would be reduced, costs and red tape would be reduced for the provincial government, and that a loss of community identity is not a serious consideration associated with regionalization.

Premier Jason Kenney recently responded to the Town of Whitecourt after it made a similar request on June 9 that the province explore a regional municipal restructuring strategy.

Kenney mentioned that they are looking into a variety of solutions that could support economic recovery and return to prosperity.

The premier acknowledge in his letter to Whitecourt that, “Municipalities may now be more willing to explore and create solutions for the barriers that have prevented restructuring in the past.”