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 – MARCH 2023
March means two important things: Spring is around the corner and legislature is back in session!
As the weeks get warmer, I’ll be spending the next three months back and forth between Edmonton and the constituency. We can never be sure what Mother Nature has in store for us (this is Alberta after all!), but most signs are pointing to an early, dry spring. The little snow we do have isn’t going to last long as the sun spends more time in the sky.
While I hope you all get out and enjoy the coming season, these conditions will continue to focus my work as your MLA on making sure we can protect our homes, our forests, our agriculturalists, and our health from upcoming wildfires and this prolonged multi-year drought. The Official Opposition caucus is ready to extend all efforts to work with the government in protecting the lives and wellbeing of everyone in this province.
At the end of January, I attended a drought resiliency workshop focused on preparing communities and agricultural producers for the dry year ahead. I’m meeting with watershed groups and local producers to discuss how we apply the things I learned to our local area. We’re also working to define what kinds of government supports we may need as the year progresses.
Our legislature session will start with a few weeks of debate around our provincial budget. I’ve been connecting with stakeholders across our riding to assess what Banff-Kananaskis needs to see in the provincial budget – wildfire and drought resilience, more healthcare professionals, tourism related infrastructure, and, as always, government accountability and transparency.
We’re going to be addressing some challenging issues in legislature this spring. The new trans policies put forward by the UCP are concerning to many. Doctors and members of our LGBTQ2S+ community are concerned about the safety of trans youth, and so am I. I have also heard from parents who are in support of these policies. I am available to speak with anyone in our riding who would like to discuss this further. I remain resolute to ensure that all human rights are protected and I believe this complex discussion is best left to doctors, parents and their children. My colleagues and I will continue to stand up for the human rights of every Albertan.
We’ve also heard support for Bill 205, the Housing Security Act, put forward by fellow opposition MLA Janis Irwin. As a reminder, the Bill proposes an immediate cap on rent increases of two per cent per year for two years. I believe it’s imperative the government step in to address the housing crisis now before more people lose their homes and more families are stuck without a place to rent. This bill is the first step in addressing a housing crisis, and I hope it will be the start of tangible options that ensure all Albertans have access to a home that is safe and affordable.
As it’s budget month, I’m swamped with preparatory work and meetings with stakeholders. Due to this and Easter holidays at the end of March, I’ll only have one MLA on Tour stop this month, but it’s going to be a fun one! Let’s get outside and hit the trails! Trails Day with Sarah will be on March 23. Join Max (my friendly great Dane) and me at Troll Falls trailhead in Kananaskis at 11am for a short hike and conversation! Everyone is welcome, just remember all your hiking gear and snacks!
Please register with our office if you plan to join us:
We had a great series of stops this past month! It was lovely to enjoy coffee with many of you at Creekers Bistro in Bragg Creek. I also enjoyed meeting with the Harmony Lane Community Association and making stops at the Beaupre and Square Butte community halls! A nice perk to this job, alongside getting to meet so many constituents, is visiting the small, yet beautiful and thriving communities that dot this part of the country.
Even though I’m away from the constituency more often during legislature, our office is always open for visitors and to serve our community!
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 – Feb 2024
Saving Canada’s Natural Health Products
For months, I have received thousands of letters and emails from constituents who are deeply concerned about the regulatory change at Health Canada pertaining to Natural Health Products and Supplements.
Last month, my Conservative colleague, Alberta MP Blaine Calkins, introduced a Private Member’s Bill which would amend the Food and Drugs Act. This bill would reverse the changes made by the NDP-Liberal government in its omnibus budget bill, Bill C-47, earlier this year. It would return natural health products to the status quo, ensuring these products are not classified as therapeutic products, like synthetic drugs, and are therefore not subject to the same regulatory regime as other drugs.
Previously, natural health products were classified separately from pharmaceuticals due to the minimal risk they pose to their users. However, after the NDP-Liberal coalition passed Bill C-47, bureaucrats in Health Canada can now implement their own self-care scheme, which, according to the Natural Health Products Protection Association, will reduce choice, increase costs for consumers and drive businesses, investment, and product development out of Canada.
The existing regulations already keep Canadians safe. As such, Conservatives are urging all members in the House of Commons to listen to their constituents and the overwhelming amount of correspondence they receive and vote for this essential, common-sense Conservative Private Member’s Bill.
After eight years, enough is enough. It is time to undo the damage done by Bill C-47, kick out the gatekeepers and save our supplements and vitamins.
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 – MARCH 2024
Quick Bits
I have not heard any further news from the Province via our Administration about the Highway 8 cleanup project. Tendering was to be this spring, and the Provincial Budget is in the midst of being approved, so hopefully some further news comes to light after the budget is passed. Now that Policy C-350 was recently approved by Council, on February 27, we will decide on bringing forward $50K held over from the 2023 Economic Development Initiatives budget. This funding would be immediately available to both Bragg Creek and Langdon Chambers of Commerce in support of their recent grant applications. Further funding of 75K is included in the 2024 budget, for 2024 grant applications.
Tourism Alberta presents at BC Chamber and Council’s PPC Committee
Cameron Spence, Destination Development Manager, Foothills and Canadian Rockies, Travel Alberta, was at the February 21st Bragg Creek Chamber of Commerce meeting. Both myself and Arron Latimer, RVC’s Economic Development Manager were in attendance. It was a good chance for local business owners to hear first-hand the Provincial strategy to develop specific zones in Alberta tailored for more high value / experiential focussed destination tourism and looking for ways to spread visitation more evenly across the seasons. In addition to the information presented, there was also a good Q&A dialog between Cameron and Chamber members.
Back on January 17th, Cameron had also presented to all of Council, where he was joined by Dayna Smockum, Specialist, Corporate Communications and Engagement, Travel Alberta. They presented quite an aggressive strategy to help diversify the economy and outlined how the Province is specifically making investments to help grow this opportunity they have identified. They are patterning some of the planning efforts and best practices from other global successes in countries like Iceland and Ireland. This includes important concepts like regenerative tourism and having strong buy-in from the local areas.
Cameron described their fast-track effort as building the plane, while you are flying it. Bragg Creek is in an interesting position in that it is in the Foothills Tourism Development zone. He has said that it ultimately may end up having a regional destination management organization. This of course would be a complex initiative that would see Bragg Creek, Diamond Valley, Okotoks, High River, Nanton, and Longview collectively execute the region’s destination development and promotion with the goal of growing the visitor the area through 2035.
Cameron’s full presentation to Council is available on the Rocky View County Website – just look for Public Presentation Committee under the Meetings&Hearing tab. In the entry for the January 17th meeting, you can find the agenda as either HTML or PDF format for downloading.
Bragg Creek Seniors
The official January 31st opening of Rocky View Foundation’s new hotel conversion – Abrio Place – in Airdrie was unfortunately postponed in the days just before the event, based on Alberta Health Services advice. A new date has not been selected, but will likely be some time closer to the June-July time frame, once the cold and flue season is over with. The foundation continues to move forward with both Cochrane and Bragg Creek projects, and a steering committee for Bragg Creek has been struck and has had one meeting so far, with another scheduled for March 4th. Agenda items included reviewing applications for community representation, and review of proposals for updating the Housing Needs Assessment (step one of moving forward on land use redesignation for the site).
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 – MARCH 2024
Don Kochan – Division 2
RVC Division 2 news items for your information:
Springbank Area Structure Plan – the Governance Committee at the January 16th/2024 meeting provided direction on how the Springbank ASP is to proceed. The following motion was approved and Council will see the new report from administration by the end of Q2 providing their evaluation of the direction.
MOVED by Chair Kochan that Administration be directed to provide a report to Council in Q2 of 2024 on the feasibility of combining the Central Springbank, North Springbank and Moddle Area Structure Plans (ASP) into one ASP with the intent to maintain the existing land use strategies while implementing minor amendments that:
- Ensure alignment with higher order policy and guiding documents adopted since the approval of
the ASPs; - Update technical policies to reflect current studies; and
- Address policy gaps in the existing ASPs identified by Council, Administration, and the public.
With the strong community feedback on preserving the rural character of our community and the technical analysis indicating that the community has ample commercial capacity, Council recognized that there is no need to adjust the current ASP’s that are existing. Council will make the final decision when administration brings the report forward for a decision.
Bingham Crossing Project – As an update to the Bingham Crossing project, the following information has been provided by Rencor (developer) on its progress:
Final preparations are being undertaken to restart onsite infrastructure improvements and other grading work for this coming spring/ summer. Rencor are working through final refinements to the off-site drawings to allow for Alberta Transportation and Economic Development (ATEC) and RVC approval that would allow for a mid-year construction start of the highway 1, range rd. 33 and township 2 50 road improvements. Costco is nearing development permit release followed by their building permit application submission, allowing construction on the Costco building to start later in the fall of 2024 and it is expected to have construction completed by the end of 2025.
Final subdivision endorsement items are in the process of being completed which will allow construction activities to begin this coming Spring. Pre-Leasing efforts for Phase 1 retail, which will complement Costco, are moving forward and Rencor hopes to announce many high quality national and local tenants who have committed to the project in the coming months. Many sought after services and amenities will help shape the overall tenant mix at Bingham Crossing. Rencor expects possession of these stores will commence late 2025 or early 2026. Marketing and ongoing negotiations for the seniors / residential site are underway with discussions taking place with multiple operators and residential developers. Rencor is in the process of evaluating the best configuration and partnership for the lands and hope to make announcements in the coming months.
Springbank Community Event Centre – Administration is currently finalizing the details surrounding the engagement opportunities that will start in the spring. At these engagement opportunities, input from community groups and residents on how the design of the hall,
multipurpose rooms and studio spaces can best accommodate the needs of the users will be collected. The County invites you to participate in the engagement sessions and provide input and feedback at that stage. It will be considered alongside all the feedback received from all community members and stakeholders.
To learn more about the project and for more frequent updates please check out the engagement page here: South Springbank Community Event Center | Your View (rockyview.ca)
2024 Alberta Wheelchair Curling Championship – On January 20th, it was my pleasure to be part of the opening ceremonies of the Alberta Wheelchair Curling Championship tournament hosted at the Springbank Park For all Seasons facility. It was amazing to see that level of competition. The winner of the tournament is headed to the Canadian Nationals. Good luck to the Alberta team.
Don Kochan – Division 2 Councillor
