Consideration for draft intergovernmental policy

By Nikki Jamieson
Sunny South News

Further discussion on an intergovernmental policy has been postponed to April to accommodate amendments.

Coalhurst town council discussed the draft Intergovernmental Relations Policy C-09 during their regular March 19 meeting. The policy aims to provide procedures and tactics for intergovernmental relations and the Town of Coalhurst. The policy came with a draft advocacy plan on intergovernmental relations.

Coun. Jesse Potrie noted that they had talked about several items in the policy, and wondered if it would have been better to review it in committee before it was brought forward as a draft policy.

“The way it was brought forward feels like, administration pulled things together and put it together in this document, rather than council going through each item,” said Potrie.

Coun. Heather Caldwell asked if they had any policies around their relationships and communication strategies with neighbouring municipalities. Karlene Betteridge, director of legislative services for the Town, said at this point, they were starting from scratch, and the documents presented were to help council start thinking about where they are going.

“They are presented in draft form; they are meant to be reviewed and you’re welcome to provide any suggestions or edits to them,” said Betteridge. “They are largely based off of the documents that we help prepare for both, previous meetings with your MLA and your MP.”

Currently, the town has the Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) bylaw which formally guides the Town’s relationship with Lethbridge County, but there are no formal policies between Coalhurst and any other municipality, but, it is something they can work on, if council so chooses.

Coun. Scott Akkerman voice support for the policy, saying he would be okay with passing it today. Caldwell called it a living document meant to be built upon over time. 

However, while she liked how the polices highlight the need to meet with certain people every year, she wanted to see more about their fellow municipalities, and not just the provincial and federal representatives.

“Intergovernmental, that would be any other governments, which would be our neighbours,” said Caldwell. “We often say it to each other, that we need to make a more concentrated effort, we need to plan and make sure we’re actually meeting with other municipalities in this area.”

Council passed a motion that the Intergovernmental Advocacy Plan be moved to the April 18 Intergovernmental Relations committee meeting.

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