The City of Red Deer has received support from other Alberta municipalities for three resolutions.
Three City of Red Deer items were approved at this week's Alberta Municipalities Conference and Trade Show: Federal Funding for Compressed Natural Gas and Clean Diesel Busses, a Provincial Emergency Shelter Strategy, and Permanent Supportive Housing Capital and Operational Funding.
"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 Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston.
The Federal Funding for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Clean Diesel Busses resolution calls for Alberta Municipalities to advocate to the Government of Alberta to work with the Government of Canada to return to a federal funding program that accepts purchases of compressed natural gas and clean diesel buses until 2035, which will allow municipalities to transition their fleets in an efficient and realistic manner.
The Provincial Emergency Shelter Strategy resolution calls for Alberta Municipalities to advocate to the Government of Alberta as well as the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services to create a comprehensive emergency shelter strategy for the entire province. This strategy would provide a vision, guiding principles, objectives, definitions, project management governance, and role clarity for provincial and municipal governments and applicable community stakeholders.
The Permanent Supportive Housing Capital and Operational Funding calls for Alberta Municipalities to advocate to the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada to increase capital and operational funding for municipalities in Alberta for permanent supportive housing to ensure appropriate housing options are available for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
“We thank the Alberta Municipalities membership for their support on these three important items that impact many communities across our province,” said Johnston.
“We look forward to the support of Alberta Municipalities in seeking a return to a federal funding program that accepts purchases of compressed natural gas and clean diesel buses until 2035, allowing municipalities to transition their fleets in an efficient and realistic manner, developing a details strategy for emergency shelter services and increase capital and operating funding to support permanent supportive housing.”
Alberta Municipalities conducts an annual resolutions process that enables member municipalities to bring forward common issues and solutions and seek member approval to give direction to Alberta Municipalities Board of Directors to advocate to the federal and provincial governments on members’ behalf.
This process includes a resolutions session at Alberta Municipalities annual convention where regular members vote on resolutions that have been submitted by members. When a resolution is adopted by members, Alberta Municipalities takes action to develop and implement an advocacy strategy for each resolution.
Since 2013, the City of Red Deer has submitted 23 policy resolutions to Alberta Municipalities. The last year that the City of Red Deer submitted a resolution was 2021, calling for an independent review of Alberta Health Services Emergency Ambulance Dispatch. This 2021 resolution was strongly endorsed by the Alberta Municipalities membership and was acted upon by the Government of Alberta.