I was in the media room at the Alberta Legislature this afternoon when Premier Stelmach released the Terms of Reference for the 24 municipalities in and around Edmonton to develop a “log term, integrated management plan to support economic growth, with particular attention to the economic, social, environmental impacts on all residents of the region.” He has set a deadline of January 1, 2008 and has made it clear the province is prepared to act if the region does not get this done...and done right!
Premier Stelmach went on to say “So today I’m releasing a road map towards that goal, and I’m confident it will lead to a long-term plan to support anticipated development in the Capital Region over the next 20 to 50 years.”
There is some $46Billion of construction project planned, recently completed or underway in the Edmonton region. The demand for public sector infrastructure in this region will also be in the billions and add to the growth pressures. The Alberta government today acknowledge that “Meeting those requirements will require concerted and co-ordinate effort from municipal, provincial and federal governments as well as industry to minimize the impact on taxpayers.
Here is an example of exactly what my previous post was talking about the Stelmach PC government needed to do. Glad to see it happening and in particular on this very difficult and contentious issue of regional, long term, comprehensive and integrated planning for the Edmonton region. Albertans what change and change is what they are about to get.
This initiative and Dave Hancock's introduction of tobacco control legislation this afternoon make me a happy camper today.
Premier Stelmach went on to say “So today I’m releasing a road map towards that goal, and I’m confident it will lead to a long-term plan to support anticipated development in the Capital Region over the next 20 to 50 years.”
There is some $46Billion of construction project planned, recently completed or underway in the Edmonton region. The demand for public sector infrastructure in this region will also be in the billions and add to the growth pressures. The Alberta government today acknowledge that “Meeting those requirements will require concerted and co-ordinate effort from municipal, provincial and federal governments as well as industry to minimize the impact on taxpayers.
Here is an example of exactly what my previous post was talking about the Stelmach PC government needed to do. Glad to see it happening and in particular on this very difficult and contentious issue of regional, long term, comprehensive and integrated planning for the Edmonton region. Albertans what change and change is what they are about to get.
This initiative and Dave Hancock's introduction of tobacco control legislation this afternoon make me a happy camper today.
He has set a deadline of January 1, 2008 and has made it clear the province is prepared to act if the region does not get this done...and done right!
ReplyDeleteScary! You link to a press release with virtually no specific content whatsoever with a threat that the province is going to "act" if we do not comply with whatever is this entirely vague plan.
Furthermore, your blog post is no more illuminating about just what's in this plan, and instead basically repeats the press release in a longer format. Please forgive this Edmontonian if she is not instantly roused from her seat into progressive, forward-moving, but unspecified action. I guess I'll just have to wait for Steady Eddy to come after me with his spankin' paddle.
kuri - the new release link has the backgrounder on it...at least my copy did. The context you require is there. If you can't find it e-mail me and I will send you a copy.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the province wants to say how it will "act" now because that would not give the parties a real chance to solved this themselves.
It has to be solved and that is best done by the municipalities...if they don't do it then the province has to make decision - by default.
To do nothing about this problem is not a choice for the region or the province.
There's nothing specific in that backgrounder, Ken. And certainly nothing that really addressed what keeps the municipalities from agreeing: Edmonton's a big city experiencing big city problems. Not on the same scale as Toronto, but same quality. Edmonton needs to control growth to improve quality of life. Those surrounding communities have their own needs - mostly they need as much growth as possible. If we aren't careful, Edmonton could end up like Toronto: paying for services (roads, especially, but also transit and health) that are used by people who live in other municipalities just precisely because they don't want to pay the taxes to pay for the very services they use. There's nothing here that address that conflict and no amount of spin is going to change that.
ReplyDelete