By rdnewsNOW staff

Council raises key issues with provincial ministers during AUMA conference in Red Deer

Sep 28, 2018 | 3:35 PM

The 2018 conference for the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association wrapped up on Friday after three days of sessions and workshops.

The conference was held in Red Deer for the first time in 20 years bringing together more than 1000 delegates from across the province.

Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer said she and her council colleagues were privileged to welcome all who attended, noting that they were able to showcase what makes Red Deer unique but also what our city’s most important issues and challenges are.

“Council raised some of our most urgent and pressing community issues, including the need for shelter and associated supports, with Minister Sabir, Minister of Community and Social Services,” says Veer. “The minister heard the significant challenges our council raised, and committed to working with The City to find a long-term solution for our community.”

Veer says crime was also a hot topic and a meeting occurred with Assistant Commissioner John Ferguson, who is the acting commander of RCMP’s K Division.

residential mill rate to hold steady

Penhold town council approves final tax rate increases

4h ago

tips to prevent fires

Sylvan Lake urges extra caution as dry conditions push fire risk higher

5h ago

Guest speaker Chad Reyes

Premier Danielle Smith addresses Red Deerians at Christian Mayor's Prayer Breakfast

10h ago

“The City values our close working relationship with the RCMP to make significant progress in crime reduction,” Veer continues. “Our meeting today focused on how we can continue to respond to our community crime challenges. The addition of 10 new officers this year will help to respond to our community’s need for proactive policing.”

Veer says another meeting with Municipal Affairs Minister Shaye Anderson also yielded a healthy conversation around police funding inequity.

Additionally, members of council met with Health Minister Sarah Hoffman regarding health and public safety matters.

“Council again identified the need for strong public process with respect to supervised consumptions services in the community, and once again requested the Government of Alberta adopt a proactive approach to prevent the proliferation of needle debris in the interest of community safety,” Veer recounts.

City officials also met with Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd to discuss energy diversification developments, and Red Deer was the recipient of an award for demonstrating excellence in implementing sustainability plans and achieving related measurable outcomes. 

The North Red Deer Regional Wastewater Services Commission partners (Lacombe, Blackfalds, Lacombe County and Red Deer) also jointly accepted an AUMA 2018 Sustainability in Collaboration award.