The Town of Bonnyville will be co-sponsoring the regional governance resolution introduced by the City of Cold Lake earlier this summer when the urban municipality brings it to the annual AUMA meeting later this year.
After officially submitting the resolution to the AUMA (Alberta Urban Municipalities Association) at the end of May, Cold Lake council have been hard at work trying to garner support from several local and provincial municipalities. Late last month, the Town of St. Paul decided it would be supporting the resolution, while Bonnyville council also voted on and discussed the issue at last week's regular council meeting.
“I like the resolution, I'm a supporter of the resolution and I think the resolution is what's best for the Town of Bonnyville,” Coun. Ray Prevost said. “I think the worst thing we can do is not discuss or consider this. This topic is worthy of discussion and that's what I'd like to see happen at the AUMA.”
Coun. Rene Van Brabant said he too was in support of the resolution, stating it was in the Town's best interest to “at least consider” the possibility of amalgamation.
The intent of the resolution is to urge the government to change the province's outdated definition of a community and adopt a more modern approach of a “complete community”. The resolution defines a complete community as a region that “incorporates urban centres including rural counterparts as a community node where people live, work, play and do business.”
Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland said communities in Alberta are evolving and so should the definition of communities and the way they are funded.
“Municipalities across Alberta are struggling and we always talk about ways to make communities sustainable,” Copeland said. “This resolution would give the AUMA specific direction to lead the way in doing so.”
Bonnyville Mayor Gene Sobolewski said he personally was not in favour of the resolution, stating he would instead prefer to focus more on regional cooperation.
“I'd be more inclined to look towards better cooperation with our neighbours rather than discussing and considering amalgamation,” Sobolewski said. “For me this is just a little too aggressive and a little too assertive and I just don't think it's appropriate for us to be pushing this when we seem to be able to sit down and talk with the MD right now.”
He added, “I think we'd be better served looking at cooperative approaches to issues rather than seeking legislative approaches from the province.”
Prevost made the motion that the Town co-sponsor the resolution. Sobolewski was the lone man in opposition of the motion while Prevost, Van Brabant and councilors Jim Cheverie, Lorna Storoschuk, Nestor Kunec and John Irwin voted in favour.