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Assessment model review, ICF framework raised in meeting between MLAs and Woodlands County

Martin Long and Glenn van Dijken also provide economic update to council at Feb. 16 meeting
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Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken and West Yellowhead MLA Martin Long spoke with Woodlands County councillors at their Feb. 16 meeting about the current economic situation in the province and issues like the proposed assessment model review.

BARRHEAD – Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken and West Yellowhead MLA Martin Long met with Woodlands County councillors Feb. 16 to discuss topics such as the province’s economic recovery coming out of the pandemic and the assessment model review that was proposed by the province in 2020. 

Long, who is the parliamentary secretary for Small Business and Tourism, began the meeting with an update on some financial developments within the province, noting that with all the focus on COVID, there has been a lot of activity going on behind the scenes and even out in the open that has gone unnoticed. 

He acknowledged that a lot of what’s going on isn’t specific to Woodlands County, but it still impacts the municipality in terms of the career paths that youth can take in the future. 

First off, he noted that Alberta has been experiencing a turnaround in its job numbers for several months in a row, and that the province’s unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since 2019. 

“Even this past month, when the rest of Canada saw a decline, Alberta continued to see a net increase in jobs of about 7,000,” he said. “We are inevitably turning the economic ship around and we’re seeing that in a lot of different areas.” 

Much of that is being driven by the technology sector, with approximately 3,000 different companies now making their home in Alberta and some taking up vacant office space in downtown Calgary. 

Long also highlighted some recent announcements that will boost the economy, such as Dow Chemical Co. Moving forward with the expansion of an Alberta petrochemical plant to transition the facility to net-zero emissions, an investment that could cost upwards of $10 billion. 

Closer to Woodlands County, the Municipal District of Greenview also recently announced a deal with the Northern Petrochemical Corporation to establish a $2.5 billion carbon-neutral facility in the municipality, which could allow for as many as 4,000 construction jobs and 400 long-term jobs. 

Long also mentioned that the tourism industry continues to be a “silent big player” within Alberta’s economy and that the CEO of Travel Alberta, who used to run Destinations Canada, has a great vision for the development of the tourism industry. 

He acknowledged that the tourism industry is dealing with a workforce shortage right now and the province is working to try and get ahead of that problem now in terms of bringing in workers. 

Finally, Long pointed out that filming recently began on the HBO series The Last of Us, noting that the popular video game adaptation is the largest production ever filmed in Canada. 

van Dijken also alluded to the fact that the province is coming out of a period of significant unrest and uncertainty into a growth phase. 

“Our province will lead the country in growth in this coming year, and I believe for years to come. And largely based off of our core industries … of energy, forestry, agriculture and tourism,” he said. 

“These are pillars that we built this province on, and I would suggest they are pillars that our entire country has relied on for the better part of 40 years.” 

van Dijken also mentioned that he had recently returned from a trip to B.C. and was excited to see all the work that is being carried out on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion. 

He recalled how dismayed he was over the cancellation of the Energy East pipeline project, which he felt had the potential to effectively unite the country. 

“I got a sense of that going down to the coast and seeing Trans Mountain being built,” he said, noting one of the biggest challenges right now is providing the needed workforce. 

Council questions 

Coun. John Burrows, who had his title changed from “mayor” to “reeve” later in the meeting, thanked both MLAs for attending noting that this is a thankless time to be in any kind of leadership role. 

Burrows asked where the province was in terms of the assessment model review, which had caused a major stir among rural municipalities as it threatened to significantly impact their oil and gas tax revenue. Woodlands was no exception, as administration estimated it could cost the county as much as $3.1 million in 2021. 

van Dijken said the province had originally looked at altering the assessment model over concerns about the long-term sustainability of the energy industry. 

He said the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) did a very good job of presenting their case to the province and highlighting the impact of the proposed changes in terms of tax dollars and even jobs. 

“Long story short, the ministry understood the concern that was coming forward from the municipalities and recognized that what was being proposed was not going to be able to … ensure that municipalities were going to sustainable into the future,” van Dijken said. 

However, he stressed that the conversation around oil and gas assessment has not ended, adding that they have to recognize the energy industry in Alberta is challenged from a global competitiveness angle. 

“I would encourage you to recognize that will continue to be on the radar,” he said. 

Long added that the province recognized that engagement will be a key part of moving forward, noting that while municipalities have large groups arguing on their behalf, “a lot gets lost even with those associations.” 

Coun. Jeremy Wilhelm asked if Municipal Affairs had given any indication of when the assessment review will be completed. 

van Dijken responded that he had nothing concrete to share, though it was unlikely that anything would happen before the next provincial election. 

Wilhelm also asked the MLAs about the Intermunicipal Collaborative Framework (ICF) legislation, noting that some confusion over definitions within the legislation was leading to disagreements and more than a few municipalities ending up in arbitration. 

“Is there any drive at the provincial level to review and make the legislation better and easier to understand for municipalities?” 

van Dijken indicated that there was no specific push right now to review that legislation, adding that he believed the province was in a “discovery phase” of understanding what worked and what didn’t. 

"I will suggest that you, as a council and participants in the process, to make notes and to identify where your concerns are and bring that forward, not only to ourselves but to the Ministry,” he added. 

Lastly, Coun. Dave Kusch asked for an update on Bill 27, the Flood Recovery and Reconstruction Act. Kusch noted there are a number of property-owners building in areas potentially affected by that legislation, which was enacted in 2013 and sets out restrictions on development within floodways. 

Long said he had asked the ministry about the legislation, recognizing its importance to the region, but he did not have an update at this time. 


Kevin Berger

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