Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.

City awaiting word on MSI and hospital funding, opioid battle following Throne Speech

Mar 9, 2018 | 12:59 PM

The City of Red Deer will now play the waiting game ahead of the March 22 provincial budget.

Mayor Tara Veer reacted Friday morning to Thursday’s Throne Speech, stating there is a lot of waiting and seeing to be done ahead of budget day.

She said economic diversification, revenue sharing on cannabis, responding to the opioid crisis, and changes to MSI funding are all areas of significant interest or concern.

“There was a mention in the Throne Speech which specifically identified the four pillars approach,” she said. “Our conversations over the last year with the provincial government have focused predominantly on the harms reduction pillar. The four pillars are consistent with Red Deer’s drug and alcohol strategy.”

 

 

Veer is hopeful there will be dollars announced in the budget for a much needed treatment centre in our city.

As for revenue sharing on cannabis, she noted the federal government’s commitment to sharing 75 per cent of that revenue with municipalities, but through the province. It’s yet to be determined how that money will be distributed, and Veer was sure to note the responsibility of municipalities to regulate and enforce.

With respect to changes to Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding, that program is set to end in the 2019 fiscal year, Veer pointed out. Currently the City received $20 million annually for capital projects and $700,000 for operating through MSI.

“There was some reference to healthcare investment, albeit that investment was notably in other cities, Veer continued, referring to hospital expansion. “We know this is a priority for the citizens of Red Deer and region and so we will be watching in terms of how the government proposes to attend to the programming and infrastructure needs at the Red Deer Regional Hospital.”

Veer also said the City will have its eye on more specific announcements around urban Aboriginal housing and specific measures to combat rural crime.