No regulation without representation, this should be a guiding principle for a new growth management board for the Calgary Region.
Sadly, the concept seems lost on the provincial government as it creates the new board, which will replace the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) and create a new Metropolitan Growth Plan for the Calgary region.
Details of the Province’s plans for the new boards are starting to emerge and so far, they are disappointing. Membership on the board will only be for communities with more than 5,000 people. This means Calgary, Chestermere, Airdrie, Rocky View County, Okotoks, Cochrane, MD of Foothills, Strathmore, High River and Wheatland County are all in. Black Diamond and Turner Valley, both members of the CRP, are out.
A spokesperson for Alberta’s municipal affairs minister says the new metropolitan plan will apply to Turner Valley and Black Diamond and they will have a way to provide input on the creation of the new growth plan.
The Province is expecting rural counties and municipal districts on the board to speak for smaller communities that aren’t.
One municipality should not be expected to speak on behalf of another.
For one thing, this shows no understanding about the differences between rural municipalities such as the MD of Foothills and smaller urban centres like Black Diamond and Turner Valley.
It also shows no respect for the town councillors in small towns who are elected to be the voice of their community.
The Province needs to go back to the drawing board and ensure that any municipality that will be affected by a new growth plan for the Calgary region has a seat at the table.
Anything less is a slap in the face.
