Sarah Elmeligi - MLA
Constituency Office
206, 1080 Railway Avenue
Canmore, AB T1W 1P4
Phone: 403.609.4509
Fax: 403.609.4513
Email:
Satellite Office
PO Box 313
#226 - 7 Balsam Avenue
Bragg Creek, AB T0L 0K0
Phone: 403.949.5090
Legislature Office
503C Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
Phone: 780.643.1027
Fax: 780.638.3506
MLA UPDATE – SARAH ELMELIGI – BANFF- KANANASKIS – SEP 2023
The air was a little crisper on my dog walk this morning and the leaves on the bleeding-heart in my garden have already turned yellow. Last week, I spent the morning with the teachers and staff at the Canadian Rockies School Board as they prepared to welcome students back to the classroom (view a video of my short speech on my Facebook page). And this week, I have seen enthusiastic students walking together to the bus stops. Fall is upon us.
September is my favourite month in Banff-Kananaskis. I love the fall colours, the cool mornings, and cozy sweaters. For me, this is the best time to be outside enjoying our beautiful landscapes. After moving and settling into our new office, Sean, my constituency assistant, and I have been hard at work all month working to connect with folks across our great riding.
had a great meeting with Bragg Creek Wild to discuss wildlife-vehicle collisions, logging, and wildlife coexistence in the Bragg Creek area. I also met with several stakeholders to discuss logging some more, housing, hospitals, healthcare, highways, infrastructure, and the Springbank Area Structure Plan (ASP). There are many critical issues happening across our riding and I look forward to working with you (and for you) to address them. One of my strengths is that I love complexity and I am skilled at considering the big picture to find synergies and connections to make things happen. I have started reaching out to fellow MLAs, MP Blake Richards, and other municipal elected officials to discuss the concerns you are bringing to me.
I attended some great community events in August as well. The Ghost Lake Regatta was a blast, and I honestly cannot remember the last time I laughed so much while serving burgers. What an excellent group of folks! I had a fun day at the Millarville Agricultural Fair chatting with the historical society and learning more about the long history of our communities. I also really enjoyed meeting the many talented vendors and artists who create such fantastic pieces of art to enjoy, eat, drink, and appreciate.
I had a great introductory meeting with a Councilor for the MD of Rockyview to discuss the Springbank ASP and other issues. I will be meeting with the whole Rockyview Council in September to continue these discussions. An ASP is a fantastic opportunity for citizens to
collaboratively plan for their community’s future. I am interested to learn more about this plan and how it can tie to other provincial initiatives and address some of the concerns you have brought to me.
Sean and I have invested considerable time in researching the current logging plans for Horse Lake in the Ghost, Highwood Pass, and West Bragg Creek. We have reviewed public consultation documents and met with several constituents. I am continuing to research these logging plans and discussing them with my colleagues.
My number one priority as your MLA is, and will always be, representing you and ensuring you have a voice in the provincial legislature. As promised, I will be “on tour” throughout the riding and I hope we can connect. You’re always welcome to make a one-on-one appointment to meet with me (just email), and you can also find me here:
September 9 – Springbank Fall Fair
September 15 – Bragg Creek Bakery and Café 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
September 17 – Millarville Historical Society queen jubilee medals ceremony at the racetrack hall
September 21 – Priddis View and Brew 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
September 27 – Beaupre Community Hall 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sarah Elmeligi
Email me at Banff.kananaskis@assembly. ab.ca to set up an in person or video meeting, or tell me about yourself, your concerns, and what’s happening in your neck of the woods this summer. I look forward to meeting you!
John Barlow - MP
JOHN BARLOW – MP FOOTHILLS – August 2023
Standing up for Foothills families in Ottawa
As Parliament wraps up for the summer and I head home to my family and my constituents in southern Alberta, there is a lot to reflect on from this busy session in the House of Commons. I worked hard to hold this Liberal government and the Liberal-NDP Costly Coalition to account, but this work doesn’t stop during the summer recess.
Throughout the month of June, our Conservative team under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre pushed to hold this Liberal government accountable for its inflationary budget. As a direct result of inflationary spending, a further interest rate hike on June 21 brought Canada’s key interest rate up to 4.75% despite promising interest rates would be low for the foreseeable future. This has left Canadian families, farmers, ranchers and businesses struggling with unimaginable financial burdens and further damaging our economy.
Heading into the summer months when so many Canadian’s have vacations planned and communities relying on tourism this increase in the cost of living could not come at a worse time. This is why my Conservative colleagues and I have worked so hard to push this Liberal
government to balance the 2023 budget. The Liberals knew their spending would cause higher inflation and higher interest rates yet they went ahead with their reckless budget anyway. Now Canadian families are paying the consequences of this lack of fiscal restraint.
To add on to this Liberal cost of living crisis, Justin Trudeau raised the carbon tax again on July 1. Amid record 40-year high inflation, all time high food bank usage, and food insecurity rather than offer relief the Liberal government introduced a second carbon tax, the Liberal fuel standard. This will make it even more difficult for families to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Justin Trudeau’s second carbon tax will cost Albertans an extra $1,157 on average per year on top of carbon tax number one, this time with no rebate in sight. Families are struggling and this is the gift Canadians get from their government? Happy birthday Canada, here’s another carbon tax.
We know the carbon tax impacts every aspect of our economy, from the small business owner supporting their community to the family driving their kids to sports, but some of the hardest hit by the carbon tax have been rural communities, farmers and ranchers. The Trudeau Liberals have done nothing to support Canadian farmers despite food insecurity being a top priority globally and right here in Canada. Instead, they have actively worked against our producers, putting them at a disadvantage with their inflationary carbon taxes, implementing fertilizer caps and burdensome regulations and red tape hurting efficiency and profitability, and failing to fight for our producers abroad when dealing with agricultural trade.
Farmers and ranchers are vital to our economy, and Canadian producers are some of the most environmentally friendly, efficient and innovative in the world. We should be championing this industry and all of its great people who keep food on our tables, not punish them with extra costs and needless taxes. The Liberal-NDP Costly Coalition should end both their carbon taxes and support our farmers and ranchers to help bring home more affordable food for Canadian families.
John Barlow
MP for Foothills
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Agri-Food and Food Security
For more information:
613-995-8471
Blake Richards, MP
First elected in 2008, Blake Richards was re-elected for a third time in the new ridingFirst elected in 2008, Blake Richards was re-elected for a third time in the new ridingof Banff-Airdrie on October 19, 2015.Blake serves as the Official Opposition Shadow Minister Democratic Institutionsand for Tourism.While serving on the government side of the House of Commons, Blake chaired twostanding policy committees and was Chair of the Parliamentary Tourism Caucus. Healso frequently represented the government in regional and national media.Always focused on the needs of his constituents, Blake has three times been namedCanada’s Best Constituency MP as well as Hardest Working MP, and in 2015received a Canadian Tourism Award for his work in Parliament on behalf of thetourism industry.
Constituency Contact Information
Airdrie Constituency Office
Address:
16-620 1st Avenue NW
Airdrie, Alberta
T4B 2R3
Phone Number: 403-948- 5103 or Toll Free at 1-800- 667-0410
Fax Number: 403-948- 0879
E-mail Address:
Parliament Hill Office
Contact Information
Address:
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Phone Number: 613-996- 5152
Fax Number: 613-947- 4601
E-mail Address:
Community Office Hours
The first Thursday of every month at the following locations:
– Canmore, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Civic Centre, located at 902-7 th Avenue
– Banff, 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the Rundlestone Lodge, located at 537 Banff Avenue
– Cochrane, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Cochrane Dodge, located at 6 River Heights Drive
Rocky View Councillors
Division 1:
Kevin Hanson
Elbow Valley, Springbank
403-463-1166
Boards & Committees
- Bragg Creek FireSmart Committee - Chair
- Calgary Metropolitan Region Board
- Emergency Advisory Committee
- Municipal Planning Commission – Chair
- Recreation Governance Committee
- Rocky View Foundation
- Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Parks Society
- Springbank Park for All Seasons Agricultural Society
COUNCILLOR UPDATE – KEVIN HANSON – DIVISION 3 – SEPTEMBER 2023
Quick Bits
Council terminated our CAO on August 14th, after only 18-months of service. Along the way getting to that point, I did not agree with the reasoning, but it was a unanimous decision by Council in the end. I believe Mr. Wandzura brought to Rocky View’s administration a new degree of analytical sophistication, level and depth of critical thinking and reporting, and broad- minded approach; to the point where we were seen to be and being treated as leaders in the region. I wish Dorian well in his future endeavours.
Economic Development Workshop
Council participated in a consultant-led Economic Development Visioning activity on July 6th. I was curious what a workshop focused on Council would entail, as Councillors are typically not exactly business development experts. I was quite surprised at how well it turned out, and educational from a County Governance perspective.
We covered a number of topics:
1. Review our plan for developing a complete economic development strategy.
2. Review potential approaches relevant to Rocky View County; understanding the impact Council wants the strategy to generate and tools available to drive those outcomes.
3. Linkage to the broader Rocky View County Strategic Plan; Economic Development is a major component of the County “deciding where to play” in competitive terms.
4. Explore Sectors of Focus / Areas of Opportunity:
a. Many municipalities are crippled by limited resources and desire to ‘chase every opportunity’ or engage in highly generalized economic development activity.
b. For success, agreement is needed on where we see the biggest opportunities, and where we think we have the tools necessary to land those opportunities.
5. Contemplate Service Delivery Options:
a. What services, capabilities, and tools are needed to execute properly.
b. Review Service Delivery Models that have found success in similar regions as best practice, and gain insights into what might work best for Rocky View.
c. Explore Council’s ideas, and assess the appetite for using planning, policymaking, and decision- making powers to ‘create the right conditions’ for economic development success.
The final Economic Development Strategy report is due back to Council this fall and should help us define our competency needs and capability requirements in that area, just in time for next year’s budget discussions. To put this much effort into Council understanding and overseeing our Economic Development efforts is breaking new ground at Rocky View. As the economy of the region continues to diversify, we should be in a great position to make the most of it and continue our grow with it.
Water Shortage Advisory for Elbow River Watershed
There has been news lately about Calgary mandating outdoor water restrictions due to the Bow River’s flow being at is the lowest since records were first kept in 1911, while the flow of the Elbow River is at its slowest in 23 years. This motivated me to check out rivers.alberta.ca to see how our Elbow River data looked. Sure enough an advisory was issued back in mid June due to low flow
condition:
Low Flow Condition.
Flow is below Instream Objective and Water Conservation Objective. Licensees are advised to review the conditions of their licences. No further surface water TDL applications accepted for the Elbow River basin. The current status indicated a Water Shortage Advisory…
Water Shortage Advisory
Stream flows and/or lake and/or reservoir levels are lower than normal, and are either approaching or are currently below key water management thresholds. Depending on the severity of the conditions, water conservation measures may be recommended, or management actions may be invoked relating to angling, temporary diversion licences, or licenced water withdrawals.
Please e-mail me if you would like to be added to my contact list for e-mail and on-line communications – Kevin.Hanson@RockyView. ca or call 403.463.1166.
Division 2 - Don Kochan
Division 2: Don Kochan
Mayor (2021-2023)
587-435-7172
Boards & Committees
- Calgary Metropolitan Region Board - Alternate
- Emergency Advisory Committee
- Intermunicipal Committee - City of Calgary
- Intermunicipal Committee - Cochrane
- Municipal Planning Commission
- Recreation Governance Committee
COUNCILLOR’S UPDATE – ROCKY VIEW COUNTY – DON KOCHAN – SEPTEMBER 2023
Don Kochan – Division 2
Hi everyone, the following Division 2 information is for your use:
Organization Change – Rocky View County Council wants to announce that Dorian Wandzura, Chief Administrative Officer, has been relieved of his duties. Council wishes to pursue a different style of leadership to support this Council, the residents and the diversity of Rocky View County. Rocky View County Council wishes Dorian all the best in his future endeavors’ and to thank him for his time at Rocky
View County. Byron Riemann has been appointed as Acting Chief Administrative Officer following Dorian Wandzura’s departure.
Budget Engagement – The County is inviting residents and businesses to share their view on the proposed 2024 budget at engage.rockyview.ca where they can take a brief survey, join an open discussion forum, or use an interactive tool to show the County how they would balance tax revenue. All feedback gathered helps the County understand residents’ priorities and satisfaction levels with existing
services. Comments and information gathered through budget engagement will be shared with Council, Administration, and the public to provide insight into public priorities. Online engagement opportunities are available at engage. rockyview.ca. Following the engagement, a what we heard report will be shared with residents. Learn more about the County’s budget process, and how your property tax dollars
support County services, visit Budget & Finance | Rocky View County.
Chuckwagon Garbage & Recycling Centre’s – Rocky View County has a number of recycling centres across the County that accepts recyclable materials for free. Clean out your house, yard and garage today. Visit here to learn more about hours, locations and what goes where!
Safe & Sound – Rocky View County has a number of tools in the toolbox to keep residents, businesses and visitors informed should an emergency happen. Visit www.rockyview.ca/safe-and-sound to sign yourself up as part of your own emergency preparedness action plan. Do not miss out on knowing what is going on in the County. SAFE & SOUND is a communications system that allows us to send an update
to your email or phone number. The County uses SAFE & SOUND to inform you of emergency alerts as well as non-emergent information like road bans, fire bans, by- law changes or development applications. This communication will come right to you when necessary.Rocky View County wants all residents to stay connected and be prepared. One other important way is by downloading the Alberta Emergency Alert app to your phone? Take a couple minutes today to enhance your emergency preparedness efforts. Need help, contact us at
Report Online – RCMP – Rocky View County is policed by the RCMP from four detachments: Airdrie, Cochrane, Langdon, and Strathmore. The RCMP is responsible for keeping the peace, preventing crimes and investigating crimes already committed. New, on RVC’s website, is a tool for you to report incidents online if…
- You have lost something that costs less than $5,000.
- Someone has stolen something from you that costs less than $5,000.
- Someone has vandalized your property or vehicle and it will cost less than $5,000 to repair it.
- The crime happened within the jurisdiction of the Alberta RCMP.
- Thefts over $5,000 are accepted from oil, telecommunications, and utility companies.
Weed Control – Regulated under Alberta’s Weed Control Act, black henbane is a poisonous plant from the nightshade family, causing symptoms like impaired vision, convulsions, coma, and potentially death. Preventing its growth involves managing healthy vegetation since no registered herbicides are available. Effective control methods include hand pulling before flowering and proper disposal. For further details, please visit our website.
Don Kochan – Division 2 Councillor
