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No drug treatment centre, or additional shelter beds for Red Deer

But Red Deer will get more affordable housing and sustained capital funding
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(Advocate file photo.)

The Alberta budget fell short of fully addressing the opioid crisis, social infrastructure and urban policing, say Red Deer city officials.

While Mayor Tara Veer was pleased to see more money allocated for affordable housing and sustained municipal capital funding, she had hoped to see funds for a homeless shelter and a drug treatment centre in Red Deer.

Neither was in the budget — even though Red Deer has the least shelter beds, per capita, in the province, and one of the highest overdose death rates.

Although more provincial money was granted for rural policing, no more funds were pegged for urban policing. “Crime knows no boundaries,” said Veer, so the crack-down on rural crime will undoubtedly help police in urban centres as well.

But she feels this week’s budget only increases the long-standing inequity in how police services are funded in the region.

City Manager Craig Curtis expressed concern about the continuing uncertainty around how fund sharing will be done between municipalities to deal with new cannabis regulations.

The budget does carry some positives for municipalities. Veer was happy to see Red Deer is one of eight Alberta centres that will shared 400 new affordable housing units.

She and Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood were also pleased that the government is continuing with its major capital grant MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) for another three years. After that, the province has committed to putting another funding system in place, and Veer hopes it’s close to the MSI, which “works well.”

Wood was pleased to see stability in the MSI. While there will be a slight decrease in the amount provided municipalities over the next two years, he’s pleased to see there wasn’t a “huge cut.”

Wood is still looking into other provincial grant programs, including one that supports the reconstruction of aging bridges. Several bridges in Red Deer County need attention, and Wood is hoping the province will help with the cost.



lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com

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