Ahead of the upcoming provincial election, the Alberta Mid-Sized Cities Mayors’ caucus (MCMC) is asking political party leaders for a commitment when it comes to relationships with the midsized municipalities. According to the MCMC, they are hosting the leaders from all of the major province parties, including Premiere Danielle Smith [UCP], Rachelle Notley [NDP], and Barry Morishita [Alberta Party], along Minister of Municipal Affairs Rebecca Shulz to start the conversation about ensuring a framework will be put in place for the province to build better relationships with these communities.
Chair of the MCMC, Town of Cochrane Mayor Jegg Genung says those who are a part of the caucus value the opportunity to build more meaningful and collaborative relationships with the provincial leaders.
“Opportunities such as these reflect our commitment to working with the Province to build public policy that benefits all Albertans, living in all communities. Today marks yet another milestone in furthering that relationship,” Genung says.
During visits from party leaders, some of the questions being brought up will focus on affordable housing, public safety, emergency medical services, along with dedicated and transparent provincial funding.
“Our mid-sized communities experience many of the same challenges as the larger cities; however, we do not have access to the same supports like funding, services and resources,” Genung says.
He adds strengthening the relationship between the province and the mid-sized cities would equitably benefit the other million Albertans living in the mid-sized municipalities across the province. The caucus’s discussions with provincial party leaders started on March 21st and will continue until March 24th.
