Canmore supports resolution request on affordable housing
The Town of Canmore is supporting a resolution that will head to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association to lobby the province to give municipalities more power in establishing affordable housing.
The resolution came from the Town of Okotoks and emphasizes with the drastic increase in housing costs that amendments are needed to the Municipal Government Act to allow for municipalities to help more people attain housing.
“The AUMA advocates … to provide additional tools to expand the local improvement tax process to make loans to individuals for the purposes of increasing affordable housing options especially secondary suites,” the resolution read.
It also stressed how “affordable housing options for lower income individuals and families is key for the health and economic development of all municipalities.”
Councillor Esmé Comfort echoed the resolution and said advocating the province is among one of the most important aspects of a municipal council's role.
“Political advocacy is a very important part of a councillor’s duties," she said. "There’s very few opportunities where we can do this and to partner with another municipality is also very positive."
In 2017, Canmore, the Town of Banff and Grand Prairie partnered for a similar resolution. While it was welcomed by AUMA and lobbied by the organization, the province ultimately sided against change. Mayor John Borrowman said the issue isn’t going away and needs to be at the forefront on people’s attention.
“You have to keep trying," he said. "This is important for all municipalities in Alberta that we have all the tools possible to deliver affordable housing to our residents. It’s more and more a challenge.”
Business recovery task force adds new member
A new member was added to the business recovery task force.
Canmore council approved Ian O’Donnell, the executive director of the Bow Valley Builders and Developers Association, to the task force at its June 1 meeting.
The task force was created by council in September 2020 and has met at least once a month since. It was created to have 10 public members, with two council representatives, two from outside not-for-profit agencies and six from local businesses.
The task force works alongside the Town’s economic development department to aid in the COVID-19 recovery plan, monitor the progress and advise on any adaptations.
O’Donnell was added after a member had stepped down for personal reasons and another for a leave of absence to focus on work.
He was previously the longtime executive director of Edmonton’s downtown business association.
“Clearly from Mr. O’Donnell’s cover [letter and resumé] he has quite a bit of experience working with the Edmonton Downtown Association … I believe Mr. O’Donnell will offer a great voice to the work we’re doing around that table,” Councillor Joanna McCallum said.
New water, wastewater utility agreement approved
There is a new utility services agreement between the Town of Canmore and Epcor Water Services Inc.
The new deal will have an initial term of five years, with three renewal options of five years, and will come into effect Sept. 1.
The contract focused on better defining the scope of the work, the service levels and term expectations, and improved clarity and flexibility on the expectations of services.
The approved contract will also see billing, communications and additional administration tasks shift from Epcor to the Town to improve services and curtail rising costs, a Town report noted.
The report highlighted the positive relationship the Town and Epcor had over the past 20 years.
“Epcor has provided critical and timely support to the Town during some of our most challenging times, including during and after the 2013 flood event,” the report stated.
The negotiations began last fall, according to the report, and were approved by council June 1.
The work began to help curb the rising costs as well as better delivering capital projects “on time and on budget” after the term of the contract came to an end.
Epcor was originally contracted by the Town in May, 1999, to operate its water, wastewater and stormwater utilities.
Council previously approved $70,000 for a utility services review at its Dec. 3, 2019 meeting, which retained NAD Consulting Inc.
“It’s important work that’s been well done. We wrestled with the question more than a year ago to negotiate a new lease or look for a different partner or bring the service in-house. The Town went through a very detailed and labourious process to get to the point where we’re at today,” Mayor John Borrowman said. “The team that put together this agreement has to be commended.”
