BARRHEAD-MLA Glenn van Dijken and MP Arnold Viersen can expect to be hearing a lot more from Town of Barrhead councillors.
On Feb. 9 councillors voted unanimously to step up their advocacy efforts on behalf of local businesses struggling to stay afloat due to the pandemic, to the provincial and federal governments through their local representatives.
The motion came after a presentation from Eric's Gym owner Mark Vriend asking the council to take a more active role supporting local businesses struggling under the weight of COVID-19 public health restrictions.
"I don't know what a municipality can do, but I know the council has more power than I do as an individual or business-owner with the federal and provincial governments," Vriend said.
Mayor Dave McKenzie said council shares his frustration but added a small, rural municipality does not have much more clout with the provincial and federal governments than individual residents.
He added that is why the municipality has concentrated on doing the little things to help lift resident's spirits.
McKenzie referenced the more than 60 YouTube videos the parks and recreation department have created.
"The videos started when the schools were closed to give parents options of things they could do to keep their kids occupied," he said.
The topics of the videos have been since expanded to showcase recreation and physical activities in the area. One of the latest gives details on the Centre of Alberta's trail system.
"We have also had discussions with the [Barrhead and District Chamber of Commerce and the Main Street Merchants' Association] about options on taxing and utilities and we continue to look for opportunities in our limited capacity to see what we can do to help people through these times."
Coun. Don Smith agreed with Vriend that more advocacy is needed, especially to pressure the province to take a more regional approach when enacting restrictions.
"We are in an area that has always been good. We have never exceeded 10 active COVID-19 cases and we continue to do well and we should be rewarded for that by allowing us to open up more than other areas that are not doing as well," he said. "Let us get on with business."
Coun. Ty Assaf suggested something similar during Feb. 2's council meeting.
Coun. Leslie Penny said that as a former public health nurse, her concern was not Barrhead residents who have shown they are responsible, but those from outside the community with high active COVID-19 rates.
"Are they going to come here and bring it with them?" she asked.
Penny added the reason why Barrhead continues to have relatively few COVID-19 cases is because of the restrictions.
"We've been extremely fortunate that the people taking care of our elders have been extremely vigilant. Are we prepared to take a risk and potentially see an outbreak at one of our facilities if we ease restrictions?"
Coun. Shelley Oswald understood Penny's concerns, as she works at an extend living seniors’ residence.
"It's a tough balancing act," she said. "We need to advocate more about giving people more social opportunities and keeping businesses going but we need to remember that … if anyone at my place of work were to get sick, it could mean the loss of many lives."
