POLICIES
Unlike Platforms and Programs, Policies are more generalized approaches to areas of concern. Implementation can be partial or phased in approach. Too much of the work done by City Council is reactive and driven by populism than by objective research and a clear vision for the future.
For purposes of this election cycle, some points can be more for discussion than proposals for immediate implementation. Nor should we expect change to take place overnight. Then again, a good idea cannot be held back forever.
Note: Policies expressed below are not necessarily intended to reflect prioritization (except for #1).
1. Southern Alberta Regional Airport Authority (SARAA)
For at least a decade the need for a new governance model to oversee the Lethbridge airport has been kicked around between the County of Lethbridge and the City of Lethbridge. Excuses as to the reasons for delay abound. It may be that constant carping from certain quarters about the lack of action (ahem, guilty as charged your honour) may have helped to move to this item up the agenda. Most likely the City Council will agree to establish the Lethbridge Airport Commission as highly paid consultants know what to advise. My vision is much more wide reaching.
Lethbridge should view the airport in the context of a regional air transportation facility in service of all the communities in Southern Alberta. This concept is so powerful that the US Government has commissioned a NASA study on the role of regional airports to replace road trips. The need for this type of approach will become even more apparent with the next generation of VTOL aircraft coming to the market in the next few years.
Therefore, rather than a narrowly focused municipal agency, a regional airport authority with the participation and support of all the communities in Southern Alberta should be implemented.
2. Waste-to-Energy Facility
Southern Alberta produces a great deal of agricultural, construction, commercial and consumer waste. Due to low commercial value a great deal of these materials end up being dumped on the land or buried. Waste, it seems is such a waste. In fact, current methods of disposal are proven to cause harm to air, water and soil. There are proven economical environmental solutions for safely turning what we now call waste into valuable heat and electricity for indoor aquaponics and vertical growing facilities.
3. Increase Choose Lethbridge Funding
It is an established fact that investments in economic development produce a net benefit over 100:1. Lethbridge currently funds EDL through a combination of cash and in-kind support at 8 dollars per capita. By comparison, Calgary funds their Economic Development in the range of 300 dollars per capita. I propose that funding for this valuable agency be increased 300% to 24 dollars per capital. Trevor Lewington, CEO of Choose Lethbridge (EDL) has kindly provided a list of areas where this level of support could be put to immediate use. What we need to see first is how much impact the new Southern Alberta Regional Economic Development Agency will have. In any event, an increase in funding will certainly prove to be a wise investment.
4. Reduce Opportunity Lethbridge Activity
Opportunity Lethbridge currently participates in a number of local economic activities that are probably best left to the private sector. Foremost among these is the development of residential land for sale at profit. This has the effect of driving up the cost of developing residential property by builders. Another questionable activity is the construction and operation of commercial facilities using tax dollars better put to other purposes. If Opportunity Lethbridge is keen on supporting the community it should liquidate its asset holdings and return those funds to the municipal treasury.
5. Incentivize Health Professionals
So long as the Province of Alberta is going to allow organizations to impair the immigration from other countries we are in a competition to attract and retain Doctors and Nurses. This is a fight we cannot afford to lose. If it’s a matter of providing new cars, free housing or annual paid holidays then we shouldn’t let this stand in our way. Ditto with hospital access privileges. Meanwhile, supporting an expansion in training for health care professionals at the University of Lethbridge will help with the supply and retention of these essential personnel.
6. Support for Downtown Business
I know from personal experience the costly red tape and excessively high non-residential property taxes, among other issues, are severely affecting our local businesses ability to survive. The next time a local official tells me “if they can’t afford it then maybe they shouldn’t be in business”, I’m going to suggest maybe they shouldn’t be working for the City. After having come through a period of COVID-related safety restrictions, this is the very last thing they need. Seriously, don’t we have enough empty store fronts already? Here are a few ideas we can explore:
1. Free Parking.
2. Zero Property Tax.
3. Online Shopping mall.
4. Increased security.
5. Buy Local Loyalty Program.
6. Theft proof bicycle racks.
7. Lethbridge Police Services
Not many people seem to disagree with restoring funding cuts to the LPS. As someone who has been unfairly harassed I can vouch for the fact they don’t always seem to be well assigned. I would like to see an in-depth review of the actual services being provided to identify areas where funds might be better directed.
1. Some of the spending be better put to use by hiring private security guards with the ability to detain/arrest alleged criminals.
2. Get more officers off carpet duty and out onto the streets where the need is greatest.
3. Buy eBikes so that officers can actually keep up with perps on bikes ducking between obstacles.
4. Place Community Policing Stations in North, South and West Lethbridge.
5. Hire more indigenous officers who can hopefully better relate to the unique circumstances being dealt with in some areas of the city.
8. Shelter Services
There is an entire spectrum of shelter needs for individuals that lack the resources to obtain. This can range from emergency sheltering for a few days to permanent shelter for those who are hard to house. This can include individuals who have any number of substance or behavioral problems. This is not the same as affordable housing for those people who have the ability care for themselves but lack the necessary financial resources. Understandably, hard working tax payers who must move heaven and earth to cover their rent or mortgage payments every month are wondering why they are on the hook for funding someone else’s housing. The concerns of all citizens must be factored into any solution.
We need a policy, or set of policies, that takes into account the wide range of circumstances that must be dealt with. This is our reality. A few ideas are starting to emerge and over the next few weeks some policy ideas will take shape. Please come back again to see what some of the options are that should meet with at least reasonable acceptance by the majority of all concerned.
9. Procurement Policy
Various economic models have shown that for every $100 spent locally, another $48 is realized in spinoffs benefits. When the city is looking at procurements, whether its roofing to maintain municipal buildings or pharmaceuticals and supplies for senior’s lodges, priority should be given to local vendors. Further analysis should be undertaken with regards to both the net financial benefits if a 5% premium can be paid to local suppliers to the City.
10. Elections
Municipal elections are serious affairs. Currently, any resident who is not in violation of the election laws who has 5 drinking buddies can put his name in and run for office. This has some serious consequences for the integrity of our election process. We need to raise the threshold for qualification to put one’s name on a ballot. If a prospective candidate cannot put up $1,000 and find 100 people to endorse their campaign, they have effectively no chance of winning a seat in an election. We need to ask ourselves if it is in the public interest to divert attention away from the mainstream candidates who are neither serious nor capable of serving in public office.
Another issue that has recently arisen pertains to the conduct of some candidates. By engaging in demonstrably false and defamatory allegations of wrong-doing against other candidates, the entire election progress begins to take on farcical dimensions. Citizens of Lethbridge deserve better and we might be well-served by employing a fact-checker during the election so that voters can tell the genuine candidates from the poseurs.