Proposed rules outlining who will have a seat at the Calgary regional planning table, and who won’t, have raised the ire of several municipalities in the area.
A group of representatives from municipalities set to become members of a new Calgary-area growth management board (GMB) began meeting in January to establish its rules and regulations of the board, including membership and voting structure – two of the most contested aspects of the board.
The Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley were not at the table for meetings last week after the Province announced in December municipalities with populations of 5,000 or less would not be members.
Turner Valley Mayor Kelly Tuck is fighting to have the town – and Black Diamond – included on the board.
The Town of Turner Valley sent a letter to the Province in December expressing its concern about being left out of the GMB, and received what Tuck called a “firm response” that the MD of Foothills would be its representative.
“They had a meeting on Jan. 20, and it was made very clear we were not welcome by the Province, by the minister,” said Turner Valley Mayor Kelly Tuck. “It was made very clear we have a representative sitting at the table, and that’s the end.”
Tuck is concerned about a rural municipality speak for urban municipalities. She said there could be liability issue if issues aren’t communicated properly, she said.
A friendship agreement between the towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley indicates the two towns work together wherever possible, she said. However, the Province won’t recognize the combined population of the two towns, which would be more than the 5,000 minimum requirement for the GMB.
“They won’t take that into account, because singularly they don’t perceive it that way,” said Tuck. “And they’re right – we’re each our own community at 2,500 people or above.”
The only way two towns could be part of the GMB is if they were to amalgamated, something they are currently studying.
Being excluded is especially disappointing given the fact Turner Valley has been involved with the Calgary Regional Partnership since the beginning, she said.
“Turner Valley will be speaking for Turner Valley,” said Tuck. “I think each one of us in our municipalities have a right to a voice, and we’ll see what that looks like along the way.”
Turner Valley and Black Diamond aren’t alone with their concerns.
Proposed regulations will see Wheatland County divided, with part of the rural municipality lies within the GMB borders, and part remaining outside.
The government has drawn a border through the county along Highway 21, past the TransCanada Highway to the Siksika Nation border. Everything to the west of the borderline is to be included in the GMB.
Wheatland County CAO Alan Parkin said it’s too early to know the full implications, but he’s sure it’s going to cause issues.
“Some of the things that cause concern with fracturing a municipality partway through are, do we have different rules on each side of the boundary?” said Parkin.
About 95 per cent of the land in question is currently farmland, he said. It also includes the Town of Strathmore and hamlets like Nightingale and Carseland – one of the county’s largest hamlets with between 500 and 600 people.
Parkin said he’s not aware of any municipality across the country that has ever been split apart by a governing board. He said council is mainly concerned about the loss of autonomy and jurisdiction over the county.
“Of course, we’re not wanting to be in [the GMB] at all, because we haven’t seen any growth in Wheatland County,” he said. “It’s been very limited growth in the past, we’re not facing the same pressures as Okotoks or High River or Cochrane.”
He said Wheatland’s council has been pushing to be excluded from the GMB since talks began in 2015. It’s not a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership.
The municipality was told it would be included because it was adjacent to Calgary, he said. When Wheatland rebutted and showed it is 16 kilometres away from the city at its closest point, the government pointed to the county’s growth instead. However, Parkin said census data shows the county has only grown by 2.2 per cent in the last five years.
“Every time we refute one of their points, they come back with a different perspective,” said Parkin. “It’s like a moving target somewhat.”
The Town of Okotoks is supporting both Turner Valley and Wheatland County over their concerns.
Okotoks CAO Elaine Vincent, who is part of the working group, said Okotoks is backing Black Diamond and Turner Valley in their quest to join the GMB, and she wants to see the issue with Wheatland County addressed.
“We don’t believe they have the membership right, that they need to take a look at urban centres,” said Vincent. “And they also need to be able to respond to the issues about Wheatland County, because the way that’s being proposed right now is going to prove a challenge to administer.”
A change in leadership on the Province’s end hasn’t helped matters as Danielle Larivee has been replaced by Minister Shane Anderson as minister of municipal affairs, she said. Municipalities are now trying to make their point with a new leader to see if changes can be made, she said.
She said a draft of the regulations should be complete by the first week of March, and they will go before councils in all municipalities at that point.
