Red Deer concerned about province’s proposed requirement to approve any federal funding

“Since Ottawa refuses to acknowledge the negative impacts of its overreach, even after losing battles at the Federal and Supreme Courts, we are putting in additional measures to protect our provincial jurisdiction to ensure our province receives our fair share of federal tax dollars and that those dollars are spent on the priorities of Albertans.”

Red Deer city councillor and current deputy mayor, Bruce Buruma, says council has some concerns with the proposed legislation.

Buruma says the City very much depends on financial support from both the federal and provincial governments.

“What I find interesting is that they talk about ideological differences. I can understand where the province is coming from, but when you take a look at the basic level of services the City provides, such as roads, utilities, parks and snow removal, there’s not a lot of ideology around those,” says Buruma. “Any potential this will delay funding or cause us to miss out on funding opportunities because of where the federal and provincial governments are, does raise concern.”

Buruma admits it’ll be hard to pinpoint the impacts until the full slate of regulations are revealed, saying the province has its agenda and will move forward with it. But municipalities need to be engaged in the process, he adds.

“It’s really important as the province moves forward with this — and that’s their prerogative — that municipalities need to have their voice,” he concludes.

As far as The City of Red Deer is concerned, it has two existing agreements with Ottawa — the Reaching Home homelessness initiative, and the Building Safer Communities Fund, which supports interventions for gun and gang violence.

Recently completed agreements were for the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (Meet the Streets/McKenzie Trail Bridge), and Young Canada Works (Archives summer intern).

One application for funding to support the Waskasoo and Piper Creek rehabilitation is pending.

Other federal programs the City benefits from, but are administered by the province, include: Investing in Canada’s Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF), and Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF).

Meantime, Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley says the act will only enshroud municipalities in, “a giant spool of red tape.”

“Danielle Smith’s government has neglected the municipalities that deliver critical services and build needed housing and infrastructure. For her to be playing petulant partisan games is not securing Albertans their share of federal dollars,” Notley says.

“This bill will make things more expensive for Albertans who need these critical infrastructure investments, and will leave funds on the table in Ottawa instead of getting Albertans what they deserve.”

MLA Rhiannon Hoyle, the NDP’s critic for advanced education, says post-secondary institutions will be blindsided by the legislation, saying that it could result in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for many of them.

“The UCP has already made life so much harder for post-secondary institutions and the students that attend them. This new bill is a devastating blow on top of that,” Hoyle says.

“Bill 18 threatens to deprive universities of hundreds of millions of dollars which creates jobs, attracts talent to this province, and funds groundbreaking research.”

rdnewsNOW requested comment from Red Deer Polytechnic, who said they don’t currently have enough context regarding the proposed legislation to comment further.

In a release Thursday, Alberta Municipalities (formerly AUMA) President Tyler Gandam says the organization is surprised and disappointed to see the legislation introduced.

“We cannot help but notice that the provincial government has pivoted from its original rationale. Initially, it said the legislation was intended to ensure Alberta receives its fair share of federal funding. Now, its justification is that the legislation will ensure federal funding aligns with provincial priorities,” Gandam states, noting the province did not consult with them on the bill that would, “profoundly affect the way municipalities work.”

“We could have suggested ways to improve and streamline agreements between municipalities and the federal government to ensure Alberta gets its fair share of federal funding in a way that respects the priorities of Albertans. The provincial government’s communication around Bill 18 has been unclear, leading to confusion among effected entities about whether they should still apply for federal funding that is being offered.”

Gandam says the group will keep a close eye on the matter, and hopes consultations from here on out will be sincere and meaningful.

Premier Smith says last summer saw Alberta receive just 2.5 per cent of the total $1.5 billion in federal housing funds, despite having 12 per cent of the country’s population.

She says the legislation will, “prevent taxpayer dollars being wasted on duplicative programs like pharmacare and dental care when what the province really needs is envelope funding to expand existing provincial programs in these areas.”

Quebec is the only other province with such legislation.

Bill 18 received first reading on April 10

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by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Red Deer concerned about province’s proposed requirement to approve any federal funding

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