M.D. discusses issues with local MLA

By Rob Vogt – Local Press Writer
The Municipal District of Willow Creek council shared with the MLA for Livingstone-Macleod its issues with electricity, quasi-judicial government bodies, ambulances, a proposed provincial police force, and more.
MLA Roger Reid appeared as a delegation at the Oct. 12 meeting of town council to discuss what he has been up to, and asking council to identify any issues he can follow up on.
Reid opened by offering his condolences on the passing of Ian Sundquist, councillor for Division 7, who passed away in August.
“It’s important to acknowledge his amazing work,” Reid said.
He turned his attention to Danielle Smith, the new premier of Alberta, sworn in the previous day.
Reid was set to meet her formally that Friday, and was making a list of items for her.
Since Smith lives in High River, Reid said he was glad to have the premier as a constituent.
He also had no read on who would and would not be in cabinet, but hoped some ministers who had great momentum built would stay in their ministries.
Reid said everyone would have to wait until Oct. 21 to find out.
As for his own future, Smith had indicated she may seek the nomination in Livingstone-Macleod. It was only when she decided to run in Brooks-Medicine Hat that Reid made his decision.
“My plan is to seek the nomination (of the United Conservative Party),” he said. “I hope to have the opportunity to serve this great constituency for another four years.”
With that, he took questions from council.
Reeve Maryanne Sandberg said a business applied to set up in the Claresholm Industrial Airport area but was denied because there was not enough power in the line.
Derrick Krizsan added the business required enough power for industrial purposes. He was advised the current transmission grid is unable to provide that power.
The M.D. sent a letter to the minister of energy with a copy to Reid outlining those concerns.
Another concern is that any excess capacity in the line is taken up by solar power projects.
Reid responded he will follow up with the minister and associate minister of energy.
“I don’t know what will happen but we’ll get it on the radar,” he said.
Coun. Earl Hemmaway expressed concern over the Natural Resources Conservation Board approving applications requiring water, then claiming it is not their department, and refers them to Alberta Environment.
He had the same concern with the Alberta Utilities Commission approving projects with no consideration of M.D. bylaws or input.
He cited as an example an application to run a line from a solar farm through an M.D. road allowance to an electricity substation.
Coun. Glen Alm said the applicant should have considered how to get their power to the substation before hand.
Moreover, the M.D. has a policy prohibiting twinning of lines in the same road allowance.
“There’s no respect shown to our municipal bylaws by the AUC,” he said.
Alm said it was the same with other quasi-judicial bodies.
Alm added the M.D.’s ability to be the planning authority is being eroded.
“It seems like we’re losing control of the bureaucracy,” he said.
Krizsan brought up emergency medical services, pointing to an initiative in Stony Plain where they activated their own ambulance, and it bares similarities to the M.D. and its ambulances.
He said the M.D. would be interested in providing its ambulances if Alberta Health Services units are occupied.
Reid responded the M.D.’s ambulances is an on-going conversation with the health minister, adding the Stony Plain example gives him more support.
He is also interested in the new premier’s talk about reforming Alberta Health Services.
He added the M.D. ambulances is an item already on Reid’s list for the premier.
Sandberg also brought up inter-facility health transfers and how the Claresholm and District Transportation Society can do them, but no longer is, adding it was an excellent service.
Reid said he discovered the answer is that the funding is in silos. If the hospital calls the transportation society, the money comes out of their budget. If they call an ambulance, it does not.
Sandberg also talked about the proposed provincial police service.
She said she worried about a proposed provincial police service being like these other quasi-judicial bodies. If there are regional police commissions who can the M.D. talk to? Or will it be like the Natural Resources Conservation Board, and who then is accountable?
She was also concerned linear tax, collected by rural municipalities on energy infrastructure such as pipelines, wells, and wind mills, will be used to pay for a provincial police service.