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By Alessia Proietti

First time since 2021

Red Deer city council submits three resolutions for consideration by Alberta Municipalities

Apr 17, 2024 | 2:41 PM

Red Deer city council approved three Alberta Municipalities (AB Munis) policy resolutions to guide their advocacy efforts, ranging from federal funding for transit, provincial direction regarding the permanent shelter, and governmental funding for permanent supportive housing.

Each year, municipalities across the province are invited to submit resolutions that address a municipal public policy concern for consideration by the AB Munis membership.

AB Munis is a group of elected and administrative leaders representing Alberta’s municipalities where over 85 per cent of Albertans live. Together, they advocate for solutions to municipal issues. Resolutions are one way that the Alberta Municipalities’ board or members can propose actions or policies for the membership to consider. Resolutions that are passed set the direction for the group’s advocacy efforts over the next three years.

The three resolutions approved include:

• Federal Funding for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Clean Diesel Busses Resolution: advocate to the Government of Canada and the Minister of Infrastructure to return to a funding program that accepts purchases of compressed natural gas and clean diesel busses until 2035, which will allow municipalities to transition their fleets in an efficient and realistic manner.

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During 2024 Budget deliberations, the City shared that while the federal government traditionally funded 80 per cent of bus replacement costs, they stated they will no longer provide the grant if busses are not zero emissions by 2025.

READ: BUDGET: public transit ridership increase, parking revenues decrease

The City says the current electric and hydrogen bus procurement process is difficult for smaller and mid-sized municipalities to fill their orders and receive busses and they are competing with major urban centres across North America. They add that current delivery times are beyond two years and puts fleet replacement at risk.

City administration also says that CNG busses can be purchased for approximately $850,000, whereas electric busses cost approximately $1,800,000 – $2,000,000 and hydrogen busses cost between $1,500,000 – $1,700,000.

• Provincial Emergency Shelter Strategy Resolution: advocate to the Government of Alberta and the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services to create a comprehensive emergency shelter strategy for the entire province to provide a vision, guiding principles, objectives, definitions, project management governance, and role clarity for provincial and municipal governments and applicable community stakeholders.

READ: Fourth site for future permanent shelter no longer on table; focus placed on province

• Permanent Supportive Housing Capital and Operational Funding: advocate to the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada to increase capital and operational funding for Alberta cities for permanent supportive housing to ensure appropriate housing options are available for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

“These three items encapsulate numerous dialogues within our council, reflecting our concerted efforts to identify the pivotal concerns within our community. United under the banner of Alberta Municipalities, we recognize the significance of these issues across various communities in our province. By amplifying our collective voice through these resolutions, we aim to foster advocacy that benefits us all,” said Mayor Ken Johnston.

Since 2013, the City of Red Deer has submitted 23 policy resolutions to Alberta Municipalities (formerly AUMA). Their last resolution submitted was in 2021, calling for an independent review of Alberta Health Services Emergency Ambulance Dispatch. The resolution was strongly endorsed by the Alberta Municipalities membership and was acted upon by the Government of Alberta.

READ: Alberta Municipalities supports Red Deer’s call for third-party review of dispatch consolidation

The next Alberta Municipalities conference will be held in Red Deer this fall from September 25 through 27.

READ: Red Deer seeks to become host city for annual provincial conference every three years

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