Anderson Confirmed for January Mid-Size Cities Meeting Here

Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding is among the topics mayors hope to discuss with Municipal Affairs minister Shaye Anderson during the Alberta Mid-Cites Mayors' Caucus meeting being hosted by Cochrane, Jan. 30-31.

While the Alberta government has put in a place an agreement to provide sustainability funding to Calgary and Edmonton, nothing yet has come forward for other Alberta municipalities.

The current MSI agreement is nearing the end and exactly what shape the new agreement will take it is top of mine for Alberta municipality leaders and it's expected to be a hot topic at the mayors' caucus meeting here.

"I know when we put out a request for agenda topics for the mid-size city caucus, the MSI funding has been coming back from almost all of the municipalities," says Cochrane mayor Jeff Genung. "It is front of mind for all of us outside of Calgary-Edmonton to secure something similar to what the big cities have received. Obviously, it won't be the same, but to have long-term sustainable funding is key to any of our budget and long-term plans. We need those funds."

"I think it will be a major election campaigning topic, for sure."

On Nov. 29, the Alberta government announced Bill 32, the City Charters Fiscal Framework Act that legislates a new fiscal framework for the cities of Calgary and Edmonton. It enshrines annual capital funding in legislation linked to changes in provincial revenue with a baseline of $500 million per year, split between the two cities. This new agreement would replace the cities’ MSI funding when the program is complete in 2022. 

A regional fund of $50 million, designed to foster collaboration and economic development, will also be provided to the Edmonton Metropolitan and Calgary Metropolitan Growth Boards and regional entities. Cochrane is part of the Calgary area growth board.

The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) is hopeful the MSI funding framework they receive will contain the same three principal components provided in the city charters. AUMA wants to see MSI funding linked to provincial revenues, allow for predictability for long-term financial planning and for it to be established in legislation.

The current MSI deal lasts for three more years (2019, 2020, and 2021).  The Provincial Government has committed to meeting its $11.3 billion MSI/BMTG commitment by the end of 2021 and they have shown this in their last spring budget.  As a result, municipalities should be receiving close to the same amounts of MSI and BMTG grant funds in the next three years as in the past years.

Alongside off-site levies, MSI funding is a major component of Cochrane's capital spending and is heavily relied upon implement it's capital spending.

Municipal Affairs minister Anderson is scheduled to be at the meeting on Jan. 30 

The town is also inviting leaders of all major Alberta parties to speak to municipal leaders on Jan. 31, including Premier Rachel Notley. Genung has received confirmation that Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel will be there while other parties have given notification that they have received the invitation.

"I just heard back from the Premier's office today so they're looking to see what they can do for her schedule and they'll be getting back to us," says Genung. "It's exciting, It would be good to have all of them come to speak to our group but also to be hosting it in Cochrane is a great opportunity for our community."