"We need a more open process of regional government. The Town needs to get more tax support from County residents to finance services and facilities that Town taxpayers currently subsidize for the region. Most people are unconcerned with long term issues of ecological and energy sustainability. There is much work to do to forge a common vision. We need more forward looking thinking about protecting the ecosystems that sustain our food, water, energy, and jobs. "
Most of this remains true today in early 2007.
Start Here with the Google Map of the Town and County of Athabasca
Regional Politics
Regionally, the joint councils have twice voted against my motion to open our meetings (Town, County of Athabasca, Village of Boyle) to the press and the public . Even in Bush's America this would not be acceptable.
Regionally, the joint councils have twice voted against my motion to open our meetings (Town, County of Athabasca, Village of Boyle) to the press and the public . Even in Bush's America this would not be acceptable.
Green Planning Issues
Green issues continue to be hard to get from the table and into the books. At the Town level, we are inching towards some simple land use bylaw changes in water conservation for new homes (efficient taps, toilets, rain barrels etc.) and some incentives for existing home owners. We have copied some of the best practices in other communities such as Cochrane, Alberta. But it is moving at a snail's pace. We hope to have these in place before the new sub-divisions proposed around the Town reach the development stage.
Green issues continue to be hard to get from the table and into the books. At the Town level, we are inching towards some simple land use bylaw changes in water conservation for new homes (efficient taps, toilets, rain barrels etc.) and some incentives for existing home owners. We have copied some of the best practices in other communities such as Cochrane, Alberta. But it is moving at a snail's pace. We hope to have these in place before the new sub-divisions proposed around the Town reach the development stage.
Water for Whom?
We are moving towards a Regional Water System for the Town and County and Boyle. Funded by the Province and ideologically framed as part of the Province's 'Water for Life Strategy'. Town of Athabasca will be the main treatment facility hub, and the Athabasca River the main water source. But it remains almost impossible to get conservation issues into the regional agreement, which focuses mostly on engineering, pipeline capacity, and now governance and pricing issues. Education and conservation fall by the wayside (or are give lip service- that is, the oft heard statement - we will deal with those later). The Province is showing no leadership here. The funding should be conditional on a comprehensive conservation plan.
When we met with the Alberta Environment staff in the fall, I described their policy as "More Water for People, Less Water for Life Strategy." They sat on their hands.
We need to put ecosystem needs ahead of the demands of human users. We could start by reducing per capita consumption to European levels would be a good start (that is, from current levels in excess of 450 litre per capita per day).
Unfortunately the Department of Infrastructure controls the funds for regional water projects , not Environment. So engineers and politicians eager for votes drive the projects, not the people with longer visions concerned about sustaining life and ecosystems.
We (Town, County, and Village and various hamlets) are currently discussing the role of a shared community and economic development office and officer for the region. This has generated considerable interest and some debate about what exactly we need.
Some people favor an economic development officer, others are seeking a more traditional approach to Community Economic Development (CED) that focuses on community resilience and strengthening services such as housing, health, training, small business incubation, social economy, cooperatives etc.) Still others see a chance to combine both.
I favor at least two or three positions; we need someone to work in the Town and Environs area (to focus on the 6-8 thousand people in this area - including calling Lake) and probably another to work the Hwy 63 Corridor (from Boyle to Wandering River) who are experiencing a different aspect of the Fort McMurray boom.
For the Town and Environs, I favor a CED approach that focuses on creating a diversified and sustainable local economy, with an emphasis upon strengthening local business and groups, recruiting key new services and businesses, strengthening local associations and societies, and buying locally produced products and using local services.
We are moving towards a Regional Water System for the Town and County and Boyle. Funded by the Province and ideologically framed as part of the Province's 'Water for Life Strategy'. Town of Athabasca will be the main treatment facility hub, and the Athabasca River the main water source. But it remains almost impossible to get conservation issues into the regional agreement, which focuses mostly on engineering, pipeline capacity, and now governance and pricing issues. Education and conservation fall by the wayside (or are give lip service- that is, the oft heard statement - we will deal with those later). The Province is showing no leadership here. The funding should be conditional on a comprehensive conservation plan.
When we met with the Alberta Environment staff in the fall, I described their policy as "More Water for People, Less Water for Life Strategy." They sat on their hands.
We need to put ecosystem needs ahead of the demands of human users. We could start by reducing per capita consumption to European levels would be a good start (that is, from current levels in excess of 450 litre per capita per day).
Unfortunately the Department of Infrastructure controls the funds for regional water projects , not Environment. So engineers and politicians eager for votes drive the projects, not the people with longer visions concerned about sustaining life and ecosystems.
Economic Development
The Town has unique challenges. We are small, about 2600 people, and are surrounded by about another 4000 - 5000 people in the County who work, shop, and seek services in the Town, while living in the County and pay taxes there. While we have some agreements with the County to jointly fund key services, they are not permanent agreements, and are subject to review when councillors want, and always when Councils change at election. This precariousness puts the Town at risk, and creates a sense of dependence and reliance on a big brother County that causes many Town councillors not to rock the boat or to strongly question whether joint agreements are fair to all involved. For example, do they accurately reflect the proportional use of the services provided.
Millions of dollars in industrial and pipeline or linear tax base in the region also resides in the County, not the Town. So, property and home owners taxes are low in the County (subsidized by high industrial revenues) drawing residents to move just outside town (a short drive to services they no longer pay for thru Town property taxes but like to enjoy)...A familiar story no doubt...
There are no easy answers here. Regional government failed in the County . The Provionce will not force amalgamation out of fear of losing its majority. So, we are stuck.
Community and Economic Development OfficerThe Town has unique challenges. We are small, about 2600 people, and are surrounded by about another 4000 - 5000 people in the County who work, shop, and seek services in the Town, while living in the County and pay taxes there. While we have some agreements with the County to jointly fund key services, they are not permanent agreements, and are subject to review when councillors want, and always when Councils change at election. This precariousness puts the Town at risk, and creates a sense of dependence and reliance on a big brother County that causes many Town councillors not to rock the boat or to strongly question whether joint agreements are fair to all involved. For example, do they accurately reflect the proportional use of the services provided.
Millions of dollars in industrial and pipeline or linear tax base in the region also resides in the County, not the Town. So, property and home owners taxes are low in the County (subsidized by high industrial revenues) drawing residents to move just outside town (a short drive to services they no longer pay for thru Town property taxes but like to enjoy)...A familiar story no doubt...
There are no easy answers here. Regional government failed in the County . The Provionce will not force amalgamation out of fear of losing its majority. So, we are stuck.
We (Town, County, and Village and various hamlets) are currently discussing the role of a shared community and economic development office and officer for the region. This has generated considerable interest and some debate about what exactly we need.
Some people favor an economic development officer, others are seeking a more traditional approach to Community Economic Development (CED) that focuses on community resilience and strengthening services such as housing, health, training, small business incubation, social economy, cooperatives etc.) Still others see a chance to combine both.
I favor at least two or three positions; we need someone to work in the Town and Environs area (to focus on the 6-8 thousand people in this area - including calling Lake) and probably another to work the Hwy 63 Corridor (from Boyle to Wandering River) who are experiencing a different aspect of the Fort McMurray boom.
For the Town and Environs, I favor a CED approach that focuses on creating a diversified and sustainable local economy, with an emphasis upon strengthening local business and groups, recruiting key new services and businesses, strengthening local associations and societies, and buying locally produced products and using local services.
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