Mayors' Caucus function gets movers & shakers under one roof

The Alberta Mid-Sized Cities Mayors’ Caucus (MCMC) attracted Premier Danielle Smith, at least 12 cabinet ministers, and MLAs from both sides of the Legislative Assembly for an event staged in Edmonton to continue its advocacy for a better working partnership with the provincial government.

Held on Nov. 1 at the Queen Elizabeth II Building, located on the northeast corner of the Alberta Legislature grounds, the mayors' caucus drew attention to its strategic priorities of equitable and appropriate capital funding, community safety and wellness, healthcare, and housing.

It's the largest gathering of Alberta MLAs and movers and shakers the MCMC has hosted at one time.

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie, also the Alberta Infrastructure minister, was among those in attendance.

READ: Mayors' Caucus in discussions with Premier Smith

"We want to be partners, we want to be a voice at the table and build a better Alberta for everyone," says MCMC chair Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung. "We were sharing with them that the Alberta's calling campaign is working and our communities are growing and we need some attention from the province in all of those areas."

Premier Danielle Smith with MCMC chair Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung. (photo supplied)

While in attendance, Premier Danielle Smith did not make an address, preferring to mingle with officials from each of the communities, said Genung.

Genung did provide an opening address on the MCMC and its aspirations. Municipal Affairs minister Ric McIver also spoke.

Genung says McIver opened his comments by praising Cochrane for how it handled the water crisis.

"Of course, with the State of Local Emergency, they were all aware of what went on here and they gave us a bit of an ovation for the way they thought we handled the crisis here."

The Alberta MCMC Caucus is currently comprised of 24 municipalities, located across 28 provincial constituencies, and represents nearly one million Albertans. They range from large suburban and urban centres to regional service centres for rural Alberta, such as Strathcona County (Sherwood Park) and the Rural Municipality of  Wood Buffalo (Fort McMurray).

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