Calgary Regional Partnership's media report for January to April 2013.

1.
MEDIA
&
SOCIAL
MEDIA
REPORT
Re:
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan

2. 2
Metro
Plan
mediation
continues
Wednesday,
April
10,
2013
10:49:01
MDT
AM
The
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
and
counties
of
Rocky
View
and
Foothills
are
sitting
down
to
officially
discuss
the
Calgary
Metro
Plan
for
the
first
time
since
February
2012.
Mayor
Truper
McBride,
also
CRP
chairman,
told
town
council
the
parties
will
be
meeting
at
the
Cochrane
RancheHouse,
Apr.
16,
with
a
mediator
as
they
try
to
resolve
their
differences.
The
counties
left
the
CRP
in
2009
because
of
objections
to
some
components
of
the
plan.
McBride
told
council
mediation
is
expected
to
wrap
up
by
June.

3. 3
Councilors
trade
barbs
over
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
By
Marco
Vigliotti,
High
River
Times
Tuesday,
April
9,
2013
1:34:11
MDT
PM
High
River
town
council
voted
to
postpone
debate
Monday
on
a
ceremonial
motion
endorsing
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
(CMP)
after
councilors
grinded
to
a
stalemate
over
the
expansive
regional
plan.
The
motion
was
brought
forward
by
Coun.
Tim
Whitford
–an
opponent
of
the
plan-­‐
who
said
he
was
doing
so
to
provide
an
opportunity
for
councilors
to
publicly
share
their
views
on
the
subject.
But
Coun.
Don
Moore
said
the
motion
was
puzzling,
adding
he
did
not
see
the
purpose
of
endorsing
or
opposing
the
CMP,
especially
with
the
provincial
government
still
actively
pursuing
mediated
talks
over
the
plan
with
three
objecting
rural
municipalities,
including
the
MD
of
Foothills.
All
councilors,
including
Whitford,
eventually
sided
with
Moore
on
tabling
the
motion
but
not
before
they
took
turns
arguing
for
and
against
the
plan–which
is
supposed
to
govern
the
future
of
growth,
water
and
transit
for
the
wider
Calgary
region.
One
of
the
fiercest
opponents
on
council,
Whitford
charged
that
the
CMP
would
eventually
grow
into
another
bloated
layer
of
government
that
will
sap
away
finances
from
the
town.

4. 4
“The
costs
are
of
significant
concerns
(with)
our
share
of
the
contribution
at
$0.42
per
person,”
he
said,
noting
these
costs
will
continue
to
grow
over
the
years.
Whitford
also
argued
one
of
the
biggest
potential
fiscal
burdens
in
the
plan
is
a
proposed
regional
transit
system
aiming
to
connect
members
of
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
–the
group
designing
the
CMP.
This
system
intends
to
link
municipalities
from
as
far
away
as
Nanton
with
the
Calgary
transit
system
through
an
express
bus
service
that
will
transport
commuters
to
their
nearest
C-­‐train
stations.
However
some
CRP
members,
including
High
River,
want
to
delay
their
participation
in
the
program,
because
they
do
not
think
it
is
economical
right
now
to
finance
their
own
bus
line,
which
is
a
requirement
of
the
system.
Whitford
said
the
town
would
be
forced
to
contribute
considerable
funding
to
the
system
immediately
regardless
of
when
they
plan
on
joining
up.
“(I
feel)
the
town
will
lose
control
(to
the
CRP),
particularly
in
transportation,”
he
said.
“At
the
start
of
a
transit
line,
(an
average
municipality)
subsidizes
75-­‐80
per
cent
of
the
costs.”
“I
feel
we
would
be
sucked
in
early
(into
this
system)
and
lose
the
ability
to
control
costs.”
Yet,
Moore
rebutted
these
claims,
arguing
the
town
would
not
be
forced
to
contribute
to
the
system
until
they
are
linked
up.
He
also
stressed
the
CRP
plans
to
remain
a
volunteer
organization
and
in
fact,
is
supporting
the
mediated
discussions.
“(The
minister)
said
he
did
not
want
to
legislate
the
plan
(over
the
objections
of
the
rural
municipalities)
and
is
pursuing
arbitration
(talks),”said
Moore.
“The
CRP
has
said
they
want
to
be
a
volunteer
organization.”
Despite
this
talk
of
volunteer
association,
Moore
did
say
the
government
has
signaled
they
will
use
their
power
of
the
purse
to
win
over
objectors
to
the
CMP.
He
said
municipal
affairs
minister
Doug
Griffiths
has
already
pledged
to
connect
support
for
the
CMP
with
the
main
source
of
infrastructure
funding
for
any
municipality
in
the
province
-­‐the
Municipal
Sustainability
Initiative
(MSI)
“(The
minister
also)
said
he
plans
on
using
a
carrot
and
stick
approach
(to
get
municipalities
to
sign
on
to
the
CMP)
by
(adjusting)
funding
from
the
MSI,”
said
Moore.
Proponents
of
the
plan
noted
these
efforts
by
the
provincial
government,
warning
opposition
to
the
CMP
could
harm
the
town
finances.

5. 5
But
those
opposing
the
plan
said
the
key
issue
is
the
threat
posed
by
handing
over
a
big
share
of
municipal
authority
to
the
City
of
Calgary,
which
they
claim
essentially
controls
the
CRP
because
of
their
significant
clout.
“I
am
very
much
against
the
CMP,”
said
Coun.
Betty
Hiebert.
“I
do
not
like
the
veto
(that
Calgary
would
have)
and
developing
another
layer
of
government.”
“It
will
cost
High
River
for
decades.”
The
question
of
authority
and
power
within
the
CRP
has
consistently
stalled
the
completion
of
the
plan,
which
has
been
in
development
for
the
past
15
years.
The
three
rural
municipalities
dropped
out
of
the
CRP
in
2009
over
these
concerns,
saying
they
will
lose
their
authority
to
sanction
development
in
their
own
jurisdictions.
However
supporters
maintain
the
CMP
is
an
ambitious
and
necessary
plan
crafting
a
shared
vision
for
the
future
of
a
diverse
and
heavily
populated
region.
“I
support
(an)
effort
to
try
and
affect
change
within,”
said
Coun.
Jamie
Kinghorn
of
the
CMP.
“It
benefits
all
communities
in
the
area,”
added
Coun.
Al
Brander.

6. 6
Anderson
addresses
CRP
Wednesday,
March
27,
2013
11:30:19
MDT
AM
Airdrie
MLA
Rob
Anderson
doesn’t
believe
communities
should
be
forced
to
follow
the
‘stack
‘em
and
pack
‘em’
model
of
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
(CMP)
nor
should
they
be
held
for
ransom
by
threatening
to
limit
access
to
safe
and
stable
water.
The
Wildrose
opposition
house
leader
questioned
Municipal
Affairs
minister
Doug
Griffiths
on
whether
jurisdictions
objecting
to
endorsing
the
plan
will
legislated
to
join
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
during
the
Mar.
20
question
period,
but
said
he
didn’t
receive
a
commitment.
Anderson
asked,
“Will
you
commit
that
you
will
not
legislatively
compel
any
community
to
join
the
CRP,
nor
force
them
to
build
to
the
CRP’s
minimum
density
requirement
of
eight
units
per
acre?”
Anderson’s
question
hit
the
Legislature
floor
just
as
the
mediation
process
began
between
the
CRP
and
two
municipalities
who
take
issue
with
the
metro
plan.
Both
the
Rocky
View
County
and
Municipal
District
of
Foothills
opted
out
of
the
CRP
in
2009
because
of
their
objections
to
the
CMP.
They
believe
the
plan
limits
their
authority
on
development
issues
and
constrains
water
licensing.
“Rocky
View
has
been
very
clear
that
until
the
density
requirements
are
relaxed
and
the

7. 7
whole
structure
is
changed
that
they
have
issues
with
it,”
said
Anderson.
He
said
people
are
starting
to
get
fed
up
with
the
direction
being
taken.
“I
know
the
people
of
Airdrie
are
starting
to
get
tired
of
developments
in
our
community
that
are
trying
to
turn
us
into
something
we’re
not.
If
we
wanted
to
live
in
Calgary,
a
great
city,
then
we
would
live
in
Calgary.
“But
we
have
chosen
to
live
in
Airdrie
or
Cochrane
or
Chestermere
and
so
forth
because
we
want
a
little
more
space.
I
think
a
lot
of
people
are
getting
tired
of
having
these
‘stack
‘em
and
pack
‘em’
communities
being
wedged
into
our
rural
communities.”
Anderson
recognizes
there
is
a
demand
for
smaller
homes
and
lots
for
low
and
middle-­‐
income
families.
What
he
believes
is
each
jurisdiction
should
have
autonomy
when
it
comes
to
making
these
decisions.
But
this
autonomy
has
been
given
to
members
of
the
CRP
in
the
metro
plan,
said
CRP
chairman
Truper
McBride,
who
is
also
mayor
of
Cochrane.
The
plan
is
designed
to
allow
municipalities
control
over
their
own
development
and
isn’t
intended
to
create
another
level
of
government.
Areas
earmarked
for
development
in
the
future,
as
identified
by
individual
municipalities,
will
not
be
affected
by
the
plan.
McBride
said
the
voting
formula
also
ensures
the
smaller
municipalities
have
a
voice
to
put
them
on
par
with
Calgary.
Making
changes
to
the
plan
requires
the
agreement
of
two-­‐thirds
majority
of
municipalities
representing
50
per
cent
of
the
region’s
population.
By
doing
so,
only
decisions
widely
agreed
upon
will
pass.
Anderson
takes
issue
with
using
the
assurance
of
a
water
supply
as
a
bargaining
chip
to
force
a
consensus
on
the
plan.
“It’s
wrong
for
the
province
to
say
communities
like
Cochrane,
Airdrie,
Chestermere
and
Rocky
View
have
to
join
against
their
will
a
partnership
that
says
if
you
want
access
to
water
you
have
to
build
the
way
that
we
want
you
to
build.
That
takes
away
autonomy
from
local
residents
and
it’s
a
little
bit
like
having
a
gun
put
to
your
head
and
saying
if
you
want
to
develop,
you
have
to
do
it
our
way
or
you
just
won’t
develop.”
McBride
said
the
plan
is
essential
to
guide
growth
in
the
region
and
is
anxious
to
get
it
into
place
after
all
these
years.
Work
on
the
plan
was
initiated
in
2006
and
a
draft
was
finalized
in
2009.
“It
is
absolutely
vital
that
we
have
a
region
plan
and
vision
in
place
to
guide
development
going
into
the
future,”
said
McBride.
“We
know
that
the
status
quo
has
presented
problems.
It’s
very
expensive
to
service
from
a
taxpayer
standpoint.
We
have
to
put
something
in
place
and
the
metro
plan
does
it.”

8. 8
McBride
is
optimistic
the
mediation
between
the
two
holdouts
and
the
CRP
will
bear
fruit.
Last
week,
McBride
and
the
CRP
board
had
an
initial
meeting
with
the
mediator.
He
expects
talks
will
be
in
full
swing
by
mid-­‐April.
County
officials
have
also
had
initial
meetings
with
the
mediator.
Prior
to
initial
meetings,
Rocky
View
County
reeve
Rolly
Ashdown
said
he
looked
forward
to
the
discussions.
Municipal
Affairs
minister
Doug
Griffiths
wants
to
see
the
long-­‐standing
impasse
resolved
and
last
month
his
department
stepped
in
to
help
with
the
process.
“The
intent
will
be
to
have
this
mediation
wrapped
up
by
June
and
the
minister
has
told
me
failure
is
not
an
option,”
said
McBride.
“So,
they’re
quite
serious
about
this
and
I
think
it
is
a
good
thing.
We’re
receiving
some
leadership
on
this
from
the
province
and
I
commend
them
for
that.”
Anderson,
too,
favours
regional
partnerships
but
doesn’t
like
the
methods
being
used.
“I
like
the
idea
of
regional
partnerships
but
not
when
someone
has
a
gun
to
your
head,
that’s
not
a
partnership,
that’s
a
shake
down
and
it’s
time
for
the
province
to
step
up
and
solve
this
problem,
not
by
forcing
regionalization
but
by
making
sure
that
all
communities
in
the
Calgary
region
have
access
to
water
and
not
just
Calgary.”

9. 9
Anderson
questions
minister's
intentions
with
CRP
Mar
25,
2013
02:33
pm
|
By
Sylvia
Cole
Municipal
Affairs
Minister
Doug
Griffiths
said
forcing
rural
municipalities
into
an
agreement
with
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
won’t
work.
That
was
his
response
to
Wildrose
Airdrie
MLA
Rob
Anderson
who
asked
Griffiths
during
Question
Period
March
20
not
to
force
any
community
to
join
the
CRP,
nor
force
them
to
build
to
the
CRP’s
minimum
density
standard.
The
CRP
is
currently
in
mediation
between
the
rural
municipalities
of
Rocky
View
County
and
the
MD
of
Foothills
pertaining
to
the
partnerships
governing
document,
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
(CMP).
Mediation
began
as
proposed
by
Griffiths
and
is
expected
to
be
complete
by
the
end
of
June.
During
the
Question
Period
in
Edmonton,
Anderson
said
there
is
concern
about
the
South
Saskatchewan
Regional
Plan
(SSRP),
and
added
that
a
legislated
CMP
as
part
of
the
regional
plan
will
“rob
communities
like
Airdrie
and
Rocky
View
of
their
autonomy
to
grow
in
the
way
they
feel
is
best
for
their
citizens.”
He
said
restrictions
in
both
the
SSRP
and
CRP
would
turn
the
communities
into
“cookie-­‐
cutter
stack
‘em
and
pack
‘em
growth
nodes
as
the
CRP
calls
them.”
Griffiths
responded
to
Anderson
and
said
mediation
is
being
undertaken
to
get
all
of
the
partners
at
the
table
to
discuss
a
solution.
“I’ve
said
many
times
...
That
forcing
people
to
work
together
does
not
get
good
relationships,
but
allowing
them
not
to
talk
to
each
other
does
not
get
good
relationships
either,”
he
said.
“It’s
imperative
for
the
success
of
this
province
going
forward
that
these
municipalities

10. 10
work
together
to
make
sure
we
have
smart
building
so
we
don’t
have
environmental
conflicts
and
agricultural
conflicts
and
industrial
conflicts,”
he
said.
Anderson
agreed
and
then
asked
if
the
minister
of
environment
would
provide
access-­‐
to-­‐water
license
for
these
communities
without
“forcing
them
to
join
the
CRP.”
He
said
southern
Alberta
communities
have
concerns
over
water
access
and
fear
water
for
new
businesses
and
residents
is
going
to
be
used
as
a
pressure
point
to
enter
into
the
CMP.
Diana
McQueen,
minister
of
environment,
said
she
is
in
the
midst
of
consultation
on
water
discussions
and
said
“we’re
hearing
from
everybody
with
regard
to
the
need
to
share
water,
water
management,
waste
water,
healthy
lakes,
hydraulic
fracturing
and
water
use.”
She
said
it’s
an
“important
discussion”
and
invites
all
Albertans
to
provide
input
before
there
are
any
policy
changes.
The
South
Saskatchewan
region
includes
about
45
per
cent
of
Albertans
living
in
the
cities
of
Calgary,
Airdrie
and
Lethbridge,
as
well
as
a
number
of
municipalities
including
Rocky
View
County.
The
region
comprises
about
12
per
cent
of
Alberta’s
land
base
-­‐
83,774
square
kilometres.
The
SSRP
is
the
second
of
seven
regional
plans
that
will
be
developed
based
on
Alberta’s
major
watersheds.

11. 11
Premier
meets
with
Calgary,
Edmonton
mayors
on
civic
charters
Meeting
follows
public
spat
between
Calgary's
mayor
and
Alberta's
municipal
affairs
minister
CBC
News
Posted:
Mar
23,
2013
11:45
AM
MT
Premier
Alison
Redford
met
with
the
mayors
of
Calgary
and
Edmonton
Friday
to
discuss
civic
charters
for
Alberta's
two
big
cities.
Charters
for
Edmonton
and
Calgary,
agreed
to
in
principle
in
2012,
would
provide
the
cities
more
powers.
The
meeting
follows
a
growing
rift
between
Mayor
Naheed
Nenshi
and
the
Redford
government
since
Municipal
Affairs
Minister
Doug
Griffiths
suggested
Nenshi
was
playing
politics
and
acting
like
a
peacock.
Nenshi
had
called
for
the
premier
to
get
personally
involved
in
the
talks,
as
they
weren't
progressing
as
quickly
as
had
been
expected.
He
also
wanted
to
address
negotiations
that
have
been
dragging
on
the
ratification
of
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan.
Redford
called
the
Calgary
session
a
productive
one.
She
said
the
work
will
continue
on
developing
a
new
partnership
between
the
two
cities
and
the
provincial
government.
'Productive
discussion'
"The
premier
had
a
very
productive
discussion
with
Mayor
Nenshi
and
Mayor
[Stephen]
Mandel
—
all
three
committed
to
continuing
work
toward
a
new
partnership
that
recognizes
Calgary
and
Edmonton's
unique
circumstances,"
said
premier
spokeswoman
Neala
Barton.
"Today's
meeting
was
a
chance
for
the
premier
to
touch
base
with
both
mayors
and,
ensure
work
was
proceeding
well.
It
was
also
an
opportunity
for
her
to
reiterate
her
commitment
to
creating
a
civic
charter
that
serves
all
Albertans'
interests."
Barton
said
ensuring
Alberta's
largest
urban
centres
continue
on
a
path
of
growth
and
prosperity
only
adds
to
the
province's
already
strong
economy.
"Ultimately,
a
civic
charter
is
about
creating
a
renewed
relationship
that
will
better
serve
the
residents
of
both
Edmonton
and
Calgary,"
she
said.
"By
continuing
our
work
together,
we'll
be
able
to
deliver
higher
quality
services
more
seamlessly
and
efficiently
and
create
even
better
conditions
for
economic
growth."

12. 12
Forcing
compliance
isn't
answer
Thursday,
March
21,
2013
4:27:56
MDT
PM
Wildrose
Airdrie
MLA
Rob
Anderson
doesn’t
believe
communities
should
be
forced
to
build
‘stack
‘em
and
pack
‘em’
model
of
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
(CMP)
and
shouldn’t
be
held
for
ransom
by
threatening
safe
and
stable
access
to
water.
The
Wildrose
official
opposition
house
leader
questioned
Municipal
Affairs
minister
Doug
Griffiths
on
whether
jurisdictions
objecting
to
endorsing
the
plan
will
legislated
to
join
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
during
the
Mar.
20
question
period,
but
said
he
didn’t
receive
a
commitment.
Anderson
asked,
“Will
you
commit
that
you
will
not
legislatively
compel
any
community
to
join
the
CRP,
nor
force
them
to
build
to
the
CRP’s
minimum
density
requirement
of
eight
units
per
acre?”
Anderson’s
question
hit
the
Legislature
floor
just
as
the
mediation
process
has
begun
between
the
CRP
and
two
municipalities
who
take
issue
with
the
metro
plan.
Both
the
Rocky
View
County
and
Municipal
District
of
Foothills
opted
out
of
the
CRP
in
2009,
largely
based
upon
their
objections
to
the
CMP.
They
believe
the
plan
limits
their
authority
on
development
issues
and
constrains
water
licensing.
Anderson
agrees
with
the
stance
being
taken
by
Rocky
View
and
concurs
with
their
reluctance
to
bend
to
a
requirement
to
build
eight
units
per
acre.
He
also
believes
water
shouldn’t
be
used
as
a
bargaining
chip.
“Rocky
View
has
been
very
clear
that
until
the
density
requirements
are
relaxed
and
the
whole
structure
is
changed
that
they
have
issues
with
it.”
Anderson
told
The
Times.
Anderson
agrees
and
believes
people
are
getting
fed
up.
“I
know
the
people
of
Airdrie
are
starting
to
get
tired
of
developments
in
our
community
that
are
trying
to
turn
us

13. 13
into
something
we’re
not.
If
we
wanted
to
live
in
Calgary,
great
city,
then
we
would
live
in
Calgary.
But
we
have
chosen
to
live
in
Airdrie
or
Cochrane
or
Chestermere
and
so
forth
because
we
want
a
little
more
space.
I
think
a
lot
of
people
are
getting
tired
of
having
these
‘stack
‘em
and
pack
‘em’
communities
being
wedged
into
our
rural
communities.”
Anderson
recognizes
there
is
a
demand
for
smaller
homes
and
lots
for
low
and
middle-­‐income
families.
What
he
believes
is
each
jurisdiction
should
have
autonomy
when
it
comes
to
making
these
decisions.
“It’s
not
to
say
you
don’t
any
low
income
housing
or
you
don’t
want
any
middle
income
housing,
of
course
you
want
those
things,
but
you
also
want
a
supply
of
middle
income
housing
that
actually
allows
you
to
move
around
a
little
bit,”
said
Anderson.
“The
reasons
you
move
to
a
small
town
are
being
taken
away
because
of
these
silly
requirements
that
places
like
Airdrie
and
Cochrane
now
have
to
build
to
eight
units
per
acre,
which
is
something
you
would
see
in
mid-­‐town
Calgary.”
It
irks
Anderson
to
hear
water
is
being
used
as
a
bargaining
chip
to
force
a
consensus
on
the
plan.
“It’s
wrong
for
the
province
to
say
communities
like
Cochrane,
Airdrie,
Chestermere
and
Rocky
View
have
to
join
against
their
will
a
partnership
that
says
if
you
want
access
to
water
you
have
to
build
the
way
that
we
want
you
to
build.
That
takes
away
autonomy
from
local
residents
and
it’s
a
little
bit
like
having
a
gun
put
to
your
head
and
saying
if
you
want
to
develop,
you
have
to
do
it
our
way
or
you
just
won’t
develop.
You
don’t
have
to
join
us,
but
if
you
don’t
you
won’t
be
able
to
develop.
That
to
me
is
wrong.
Water
is
not
a
bargaining
chip,
water
is
a
right
of
all
citizens.”
Anderson
says
he’s
not
opposed
to
regional
partnerships
but
forcing
issues
important
to
jurisdictions
like
Rocky
View
County
isn’t
the
answer.
“I
like
the
idea
of
regional
partnerships
but
not
when
someone
has
a
gun
to
your
head,
that’s
not
a
partnership,
that’s
a
shake
down
and
it’s
time
for
the
province
to
step
up
and
solve
this
problem,
not
by
forcing
regionalization
but
making
sure
that
all
communities
in
the
Calgary
region
have
access
to
water
and
not
just
Calgary.”
The
mediator
started
discussions
with
the
parties
this
week.
They
met
with
CRP
chairman
Truper
McBride
twice
this
week
and
are
scheduled
to
meet
with
the
CRP
board
on
Friday.
The
mediator
is
also
speaking
with
county
officials.

14. 14
Irricana
in
line
for
potential
CRP
transit
study
Mar
11,
2013
03:03
pm
|
By
Thomas
Miller
|
Rocky
View
Weekly
The
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
is
working
out
the
feasibility
of
regional
transportation
including
a
potential
bus
loop
running
from
Irricana
to
Airdrie.
Irricana
Councillor
Josh
Taylor
reported
the
potential
for
such
a
bus
loop
during
the
March
4
Town
council
meeting.
Taylor
stated
in
his
report
that
certain
economic
factors
would
have
to
improve
in
order
for
the
bus
loop
to
become
a
reality,
but
said
it’s
great
that
Irricana
is
being
considered.
“Since
we’ve
become
a
member
of
the
CRP,
which
is
about
three
years,
there
has
been
no
thought
of
Irricana
being
helped
by
the
CRP
at
all,”
said
Taylor.
“It’s
very
good
that
Irricana
is
being
taken
seriously
at
CRP
as
a
vital
player
in
this
game.”
Taylor
said
that
the
CRP
could
perform
a
feasibility
study
on
Irricana
within
the
next
few
years.
According
to
Ettore
Iannacito,
the
CRP’s
regional
transportation
manager,
Cochrane
recently
completed
its
feasibility
study,
while
Chestermere
and
Okotoks
are
currently
in
the
process
of
doing
so.
Iannacito
says
they’re
trying
to
look
at
transportation
from
a
regional
perspective
as
opposed
to
individual
municipalities.
“If
the
CRP
had
to
do
it,
how
could
it
be
done
differently?”
said
Iannacito.
“Within
that
context
we
went
and
visited
all
the
municipalities,
the
smaller
municipalities,
because
we
consider
them
all
very
important
and
basically
said
to
them,
if
we
were
able
to
implement
transit
within
the
next
five
to
10
years
or
even
10
to
20
years,
what
would
your
transit
needs
be?”
Iannacito
explained
that
it’s
only
a
hypothetical
scenario
at
the
moment,
but
if
it’s
something
wanted
by
the
people
of
Irricana,
it’s
possible.
However,
Taylor
isn’t
so
sure
Irricana
residents
want
such
a
transportation
system.
He
explained
a
few
years
ago
he
discussed
the
possibility
of
such
a
bus
loop
with
residents
and
the
idea
never
got
off
the
table.

15. 15
“I
grew
up
in
a
small
town
…
as
soon
as
you
turn
16
and
you
get
your
driver’s
licence,
that’s
it,
you
don’t
have
to
wait
for
the
bus,”
said
Taylor.
Taylor
expressed
the
town
is
changing
with
more
people
coming
to
Irricana
who
grew
up
in
urban
settings
and
might
be
more
accustomed
to
taking
the
bus.
“If
you
grew
up
in
a
small
town,
your
car
is
a
symbol
of
freedom,”
said
Taylor.
“But
now
with
gas
prices
going
up,
etc.
…
that
will
affect
a
lot
of
people
who
were
not
specifically
raised
in
small
towns
or
rural
Alberta.
They
are
more
used
to
the
convenience
of
taking
the
bus.”
Once
reports
are
completed
in
Chestermere
and
Okotoks,
Irricana
will
be
considered.

16. 16
It's
rural
vs.
Calgary
in
regional
plan
Districts
say
they'll
lose
autonomy
if
city
has
its
way
Published
March
7,
2013
by
Suzy
Thompson
in
News
Three
municipal
districts
surrounding
Calgary
are
afraid
Mayor
Naheed
Nenshi
will
succeed
in
forcing
them
to
join
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP).
The
MDs
of
Wheatland,
Rocky
View
and
Foothills
are
digging
in
their
collective
heels
and
refusing
to
sign
on
to
the
CRP
or
its
governing
document,
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
(CMP).
In
February,
mayor
Nenshi
scored
headlines
with
his
efforts
to
convince
the
provincial
government
to
create
legislation
that
would
force
the
MDs
to
join,
and
the
ensuing
personal
jabs
between
him
and
Municipal
Affairs
Minister
Doug
Griffiths.
Now,
the
CRP
and
the
resistant
MDs
are
awaiting
a
provincially
appointed
mediator
to
see
if
the
CMP
can
be
altered
enough
to
entice
them
to
join.
“I
totally
understand
why
he
is
trying
to
pressure
the
provincial
government
into
legislating
the
plan
with
the
three
rurals,
because
Calgary
has
everything
to
gain,
basically,
and
the
rural
municipalities
have
everything
to
lose,”
says
MD
of
Foothills
Reeve
Larry
Spilak.
“Sure,
I
can
understand
his
position,
but
I’m
really
grateful
to
minister
Griffiths
and
the
PC
government
for
defending
the
smaller
rural
municipalities
and
our
autonomy.”
The
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
was
formed
in
1999
as
a
way
for
Calgary
and
surrounding
communities
to
collaborate
on
development
and
infrastructure.
Today
there
are
14
members:
Airdrie,
Banff,
Black
Diamond,
Calgary,
Canmore,
Chestermere,
Cochrane,
High
River,
Irricana,
Nanton,
Okotoks,
Redwood
Meadows,
Strathmore
and

17. 17
Turner
Valley.
While
all
its
members
agree
it
is
in
everyone’s
best
interests
to
take
the
entire
region
into
account
when
writing
development
plans,
Calgary’s
overwhelming
size
and
clout
is
a
common
sore
spot.
The
CMP
was
approved
in
the
summer
of
2012
after
several
years
of
contentious
negotiations
which
included
the
participation
and
then
withdrawal
of
Rocky
View
and
Foothills
MDs.
Wheatland
did
not
participate,
but
Calgary
wants
all
three
MDs
included.
The
situation
is
still
tense,
as
Nenshi
and
city
council
hold
that
Calgary’s
development
is
hindered
as
long
as
the
MDs
in
question
do
not
sign
onto
the
CMP,
which
is
why
Nenshi
ultimately
asked
the
provincial
government
to
force
their
membership
—
something
Premier
Alison
Redford
says
will
not
happen.
The
MDs
encompass
huge
swaths
of
mainly
rural
land
surrounding
Calgary,
and
include
nearly
every
member
town
in
the
CRP.
Their
main
issue
with
the
partnership
is
what
they
consider
a
guaranteed
loss
of
autonomy.
The
CMP
contains
a
provision
to
force
final
votes
weighted
by
population.
A
decision
made
by
member
communities
accounting
for
50
per
cent
of
the
region’s
population
is
absolute.
With
87
per
cent
of
the
region’s
population,
that
voting
model
gives
Calgary
a
de
facto
veto
on
every
vote.
Resistant
reeves
like
Spilak
and
Rocky
View’s
Rolly
Ashdown
claim
Calgary
is
pushing
the
CMP
because
it
is
intent
on
controlling
the
entire
region’s
infrastructure
and
development
to
the
city’s
advantage.
In
2011,
the
three
MDs
asked
the
Alberta
Association
of
Municipal
Districts
and
Counties
(AAMDC)
to
review
the
CMP
and
come
up
with
recommendations
to
change
it
in
the
MDs’
favour.
Those
recommendations
were
ignored,
as
were
34
amendments
the
MDs
suggested
to
the
CMP
while
it
was
still
being
written
in
2009.
AAMDC
president
Bob
Barss
says
Calgary
is
now
using
its
water
licence
as
leverage
to
compel
communities
to
submit
to
the
CMP.
Calgary
is
licensed
to
draw
enough
water
from
the
Bow
River
to
service
an
estimated
three
million
people.
Surrounding
municipalities
are
capped
at
their
current
allocation
and
need
to
tap
into
Calgary’s
overabundant
supply
in
order
to
grow.
“It
stops
the
growth
of
a
rural
municipality.
[Calgary
has]
enough
water
allocation
just
about
for
all
the
people
in
Alberta,”
says
Barss.
“You
can’t
use
water
as
a
lever,
and
with
that
much
allocation
that’s
what
Calgary
is
doing.
We
know
that
because
of
what
happened
with
Cross
Iron
Mills
and
we
know
that
with
CN
moving
their
offices
and
shops
out
of
Calgary
and
into
the
outskirts
so
they
could
get
into
a
different
water
line.”
Rocky
View
County
had
asked
Calgary
to
connect
the
new
CN
rail
yard
to
the
city’s
supply,
but
the
request
was
denied
and
the
rail
yard
has
since
arranged
to
source
its
water
from
an
irrigation
district.
Whether
water
allocation
is
seen
as
an
incentive
to
join
the
partnership
or
as
punishment
for
failing
to,
it
is
a
real
condition
of
the
CMP.
The
plan
states
“the
City
of
Calgary
is
willing
to
provide
bulk
potable
water
and
wastewater
services
to
members
of
the
CRP
in
order
to
support
the
growth
identified
under
the
auspices
of
the
CMP.”
However,
water
won’t
be
provided
unless
specific
development
conditions
are
accepted,
and
that’s
where
the
MDs
believe
they
are
sacrificing
their

18. 18
governance
powers
to
Calgary.
Ashdown
says
the
reason
there
are
no
rural
MDs
in
the
plan
is
because
it
calls
for
cramming
eight
to
10
houses
into
an
acre
in
order
to
receive
services.
“We
don’t
have
40-­‐foot
lots
in
the
country,”
he
says.
In
order
to
qualify
for
Calgary’s
water
under
the
CMP,
member
communities,
even
mainly
rural
districts
like
the
three
MDs
would
be,
must
build
much
denser
residential
communities.
“If
development
continues
at
its
current
pace,
without
co-­‐ordinated
regional
planning,
our
region’s
urban
development
footprint
is
sure
to
increase
dramatically,”
warns
the
CMP.
“By
implementing
the
goals
in
the
Plan,
we
can
expect
to
see
a
70
per
cent
reduction
in
land
used
for
urban
development
in
the
future....
Member
municipalities
will
ensure
that
all
new
development
in
priority
growth
areas
is
compact,
mixed-­‐use;
walkable....
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
acknowledges
the
unique
low-­‐density
lifestyle
choice
that
existing
and
new
hamlets
and
villages
provide
in
our
region,
where
they
can
thrive
without
regional
servicing,”
i.e.
without
tying
in
to
Calgary’s
water
supply.
Calgary’s
offer
of
water-­‐for-­‐compliance
may
eventually
work
with
Rocky
View.
But
because
it
draws
from
the
Sheep
and
Highwood
rivers,
Spilak
says
the
MD
of
Foothills
doesn’t
need
Calgary’s
water
or
its
partnership.
Instead,
Spilak
says
the
MD
will
happily
sign
on
to
the
South
Saskatchewan
Regional
Plan,
which
he
believes
addresses
growth
issues
much
more
appropriately.
“Calgary
does
not
have
us
over
a
barrel
because
we
don’t
require
their
water….
The
CMP
is
an
urban
plan.
It’s
for
urban
planning
and
we’re
a
rural
jurisdiction.
We
do
grow,
of
course,
and
we
develop,
but
on
a
much
different
scale
and
a
much
different
way
than
the
cities
and
towns
do,”
he
explains.
“If
you
can
control
your
municipality,
and
you
can
control
all
the
municipalities
around
you,
you
decide
where
the
growth
goes,
you
decide
where
industry
goes,
you
make
all
the
decisions.
So
it’s
strictly
a
control
issue,”
says
Barss.
“They
definitely
are
not
going
to
get
anywhere
without
a
mediator.”
Redford
and
Griffiths
have
both
promised
the
MDs
they
will
not
be
forced
into
any
agreement
with
Calgary.
Redford
also
told
the
MDs
during
a
tour
of
the
region
in
February
that
Environment
Minister
Diana
McQueen
will
be
visiting
southern
Alberta
in
March
to
discuss
water
supply
issues.

19. 19
Rocky
View
County
headed
to
mediation
over
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
Wednesday,
March
6,
2013
11:47:26
MST
AM
The
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
is
headed
into
mediation
with
Rocky
View
County
and
the
Municipal
District
of
Foothills
after
again
failing
to
come
to
an
agreement
yet
again
over
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
(CMP).
Doug
Griffiths,
Minister
of
Municipal
Affairs,
presented
the
mediation
option
to
the
CRP
and
the
rural
communities
near
the
end
of
February
with
a
no
fail
mandate.
Developed
and
approved
in
2009,
the
CMP
looks
to
address
regional
issues
such
as
infrastructure,
environment,
growth,
local
economy
and
governance.
Rocky
View
and
Foothills
left
after
the
Plan
was
approved
due
to
concerns
about
density,
governance
and
water
and
things
have
come
to
standstill
since.
The
plan
is
basically
a
document
the
province
sees
as
essential
to
long-­‐term
growth
for
the
Calgary
region;
protecting
ecological
systems,
preventing
urban
sprawl
and
building
wise
infrastructure
projects
in
the
area,
for
example.
According
to
Truper
McBride,
chair
of
the
CPR
and
Mayor
of
Cochrane,
the
CRP
has
gone
back
several
times
to
the
communities
to
try
and
come
to
a
compromise.
He
listed
examples
of
rewording
about
density
policies,
servicing
for
public
institutions
and
use
of
the
super-­‐majority
governance
system
as
areas
they
improved
to
get
the
districts
back
on
board,
but
with
no
luck.
“We
think
that
we
did
our
best
attempt
at
trying
to
resolve
the
issues
that
the
rural
municipalities
have
with
the
plan,
it
didn’t
go
far
enough
with
them,”
he
stated,
hence
why
the
provincial
government
has
now
stepped
in.
Rolly
Ashdown,
Reeve
of
Rocky
View
County,
said
while
he
doesn’t
think
eliminating
this

20. 20
is
a
goal
of
any
parties
involved,
he
wants
to
ensure
that
each
municipality’s
autonomy
remains
intact
and
that
no
one
is
forced
into
regionalization.
“If
we
want
to
do
a
planning
thing,
we
want
to
make
sure
that
if
it’s
considered
regional
in
nature
that
we
get
to
make
decisions
on
our
county
for
our
taxpayers
the
same
as
everybody
else,
without
anybody
interfering
with
the
ability
or
non-­‐ability
to
do
that.”
McBride
said
the
CRP
wants
to
keep
planning
local
and
that
the
only
regional
function
of
that
would
come
into
effect
when
looking
at
regional
servicing
and
transportation
—
if
an
area
needs
access
to
regional
servicing,
there
has
to
be
in
place
certain
densities
to
achieve
that.
But
that’s
the
sticking
point,
according
to
Ashdown.
While
Rocky
View
has
successful
inter-­‐municipal
committees
with
their
neighbours
in
the
CRP,
he
said
urban
planning
is
different
than
rural
planning
and
that
he’s
still
concerned
his
smaller
municipality
could
be
outvoted
on
governance
issues
by
larger
ones
like
Calgary.
Despite
differences,
both
parties
said
they’re
looking
forward
to
sitting
down
with
the
province
to
reach
an
agreement
and
hearing
what
the
other
has
to
say.
The
CRP
is
currently
made
up
of
14
municipalities,
including
Airdrie.
The
mediation
process
is
set
to
begin
in
early
March,
but
dates
have
yet
to
be
set
by
the
province.
A
resolution
is
expected
by
June.

21. 21
CRP,
County,
Province
mediation
promising
Mar
04,
2013
01:33
pm
We
are
cautiously
optimistic
about
the
Province’s
proposed
mediation
solution
inviting
Rocky
View
County
to
become
a
part
of
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP).
(See
story
on
page
1).
As
Rocky
View
County
Reeve
Rolly
Ashdown
pointed
out,
in
the
past,
the
CRP
has
tried
to
bully
the
County
into
joining
the
cooperative.
The
County
voted
to
leave
the
CRP
in
2009
because
of
concerns
about
governance,
density
and
water.
The
council
of
the
day
felt
the
governance
mandate
of
the
CRP,
or
voting
structure,
threatened
municipal
autonomy;
residential
development
densities
of
between
eight
and
10
units
per
acre
did
not
fit
into
a
rural
lifestyle
and
wanted
to
explore
the
opportunity
of
being
a
part
of
a
regional
water
and
wastewater
service.
We
are
glad
to
see
the
groups
entering
into
talks
again
with
the
Province
as
a
mediator
and
hope
they
are
more
productive
and
fair
than
they
have
been
in
the
past.
The
one
thing
that
has
us
worried
is
the
fact
the
CRP
chair
claims
the
minister
of
municipal
affairs
has
said
the
“process
will
not
be
allowed
to
fail.”
We
can
only
hope
this
doesn’t
mean
the
Province
plans
to
force
the
municipality
to
join
the
partnership
even
if
it
is
not
in
its
residents’
best
interest.
We
agree
the
Calgary
Region
needs
an
over
arching
plan
that
will
guide
growth
into
the
future.
However,
we
feel
it
is
imperative
that
the
plan
works
for
all
parties
involved.
Rocky
View
County
and
the
Municipal
District
of
Foothills
contain
a
large
majority
of
the
residents
in
the
Calgary
area.
This
plan
will
guide
how
their
land,
resources
and
government
works
and
will
indirectly
shape
how
they
live.

22. 22
Province
offers
mediation
to
CRP,
rural
municipalities
Mar
04,
2013
01:28
pm
|
By
Dawn
Smith
|
Rocky
View
Weekly
Rocky
View
County
has
been
invited
to
accept
the
mediation
solution
to
become
part
of
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
presented
by
Doug
Griffiths,
the
minister
of
municipal
affairs.
Griffiths
penned
a
letter
in
late
January,
outlining
the
terms
in
a
bid
to
bring
the
rural
municipalities
of
Rocky
View
and
Foothills
back
into
the
CRP
fold.
Pending
agreement
by
the
rurals,
mediation
is
set
to
begin
in
March
and
is
expected
to
be
completed
by
the
end
of
June,
according
to
a
CRP
blog
post
dated
Feb.
22.
When
Rocky
View
voted
to
leave
the
CRP
in
2009,
it
was
over
concerns
about
governance,
density
and
water.
Reeve
Rolly
Ashdown
said
the
County
is
looking
forward
to
the
mediation
process.
“Usually
what
happens
when
we
get
together
with
the
CRP
is
they
have
already
decided
what
will
work
for
Rocky
View,”
he
said.
“This
is
the
first
time
we
will
actually
sit
down
with
them.
We
don’t
have
a
problem
getting
together
with
people,
it’s
great.”
CRP
Chair
and
Cochrane
Mayor
Truper
McBride
is
also
optimistic
about
the
process.
“We
have
tried
to
resolve
the
outstanding
issues
with
the
rurals
in
the
past,
(but)
we
weren’t
able
to
come
up
with
a
resolution
ourselves,”
he
said.
“What
has
changed
is
the
Province
has
decided
to
take
a
lead
on
this.We
are
very
pleased
the
minister
has
stepped
forward.”
McBride
said
the
CRP
is
waiting
to
hear
from
the
rural
municipalities,
but
said
he
suspects
all
the
parties
will
want
to
take
part
in
the
process
to
ensure
the
success
of
the
CRP’s
long-­‐range
growth
plan
for
the
Calgary
region,
entitled
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
(CMP).
He
added
the
minister
told
him
the
“process
will
not
be
allowed
to
fail.”
Jerry
Ward,
public
affairs
officer
for
Alberta’s
municipal
affairs
department,
confirmed
the
letters
had
been
sent
to
all
CRP
partner
municipalities,
as
well
as
Rocky
View
County

23. 23
and
the
Municipal
District
of
Foothills.
“It
was
basically
to
move
the
process
forward,”
he
said,
adding
the
letters
were
penned
Jan.
28.
“The
(CMP)
is
a
priority
of
our
government
and
the
Province
has
supported
the
partnership
in
developing
the
plan.
“Failure
to
include
the
rurals,
which
represent
a
large
majority
of
the
residents
in
the
Calgary
area,
is
a
big
concern
for
the
effectiveness
of
the
plan.”
The
CMP
was
approved
by
the
CRP
in
2009,
and
has
been
awaiting
the
Province’s
approval
for
nearly
four
years.
“We
need
everyone
working
together
to
prepare
for
the
more
than
three
million
people
(double
the
current
population)
expected
to
live
in
the
Calgary
Region
over
the
next
60
years,”
stated
the
blog
post,
located
online
at
www.calgaryregion.ca

24. 24
TV
show
puts
Chestermere
in
the
limelight
Mar
04,
2013
01:33
pm
|
By
Thomas
Miller
|
Rocky
View
Weekly
Chestermere
is
getting
cross-­‐continent
exposure.
The
Today
in
America
TV
program
recently
featured
Chestermere
in
a
hidden
gems
segment.
Terry
Bradshaw,
a
television
personality
famous
for
leading
the
Pittsburgh
Steelers
to
four
Super
Bowls
in
the
1970s
and
1980s,
is
the
host
of
the
program,
which
airs
on
a
number
of
different
networks
including
BNN,
CNN
and
Discovery.
Chestermere
Mayor
Patricia
Matthews
said
she
worked
with
the
Chestermere
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
to
find
the
right
people
to
speak
about
Chestermere
as
a
destination
for
viewers.
Even
Olympic
gold
medallist
John
Morris
pitched
in
as
a
spokesperson
for
Chestermere
in
the
segment.
Morris
is
occupied
at
the
moment
by
the
Tim
Hortons
Brier,
where
he’s
competing
as
the
third
on
Team
Martin.
But
Matthews
says
Morris
has
always
been
the
perfect
spokesperson
for
Chestermere.
“He
is
a
fantastic
community
supporter,”
said
the
mayor
of
the
Olympian.
“John
works
with
our
Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters
program,
he
comes
out
and
mentors
some
of
the
kids
with
the
youth
curling,
he’s
at
every
event
we’ve
ever
asked
to
be
at.
“He
sacrifices
a
lot
for
our
community,
we
couldn’t
ask
for
a
better
spokesman.”
Along
with
Matthews
and
Morris,
Andrew
Marriott,
owner
of
a
Tim
Hortons
franchise
in
Chestermere,
Graeme
Melton,
land
development
manager
for
Melcor
Developments,
and
Kyle
Wilson
of
Wilson
Master
Media
participated
in
the
video
to
champion
Chestermere.
Wilson
has
been
a
Chestermere
resident
since
1989
and
he’s
seen
the
town
grow,
especially
in
the
business
sector.
“One
of
the
reasons
I
decided
to
start
a
business
out
there
within
the
marketing
industry
is
that
I’ve
seen
a
lot
of
businesses
come
and
go
throughout
the
years
and
that
was
really
my
initiative
to
put
programs
together
where
I
can
help
contribute
to
get

25. 25
these
businesses
names
out
there,”
said
Wilson.
“In
recent
years,
it’s
been
very
successful
…
businesses
are
sticking
around.
It’s
growing
a
lot
and
that’s
what
I
like
to
see.
“Chestermere
is
definitely
expanding
and
now
that
we
have
a
lot
of
foundational
things
in
place
such
as
the
schools,
the
banks,
the
gas
stations,
I’m
really
hoping
to
see
a
lot
more
retail
come
in
there
and
I
believe
that
it’s
a
great,
absolutely
amazing
community
to
be
able
to
start
a
business,
especially
with
all
the
future
initiatives
the
Town
has
in
place.”
Matthews
says
the
Town
was
able
to
work
with
the
TV
program
on
where
it
would
air
–
they
wanted
particular
airings
in
Texas,
Vancouver
and
Victoria.
“Texas
is
a
big
supporter
of
Alberta
and
vice
versa,”
said
Matthews.
“So
we
thought
that
would
provide
us
with
the
most
potential.
“This
will
bring
more
opportunity
not
only
for
our
current
businesses,
but
bring
future
business
to
town,
too.
The
chance
to
get
out
there
and
get
people
to
get
a
better
understanding
of
who
we
are
as
a
community
on
a
continent-­‐wide
scale
is
not
something
that
comes
along
very
often.”
To
view
the
segment
online,
visit
www.chestermere.ca

26. 26
February
28,
2013
Updated:
February
28,
2013
|
8:08
pm
Calgary
regional
mediation
won’t
include
Wheatland
County
By
Robson
Fletcher
Metro
Calgary
Wheatland
County
is
refusing
to
take
part
in
mediation
over
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan,
but
the
province
plans
to
press
ahead
with
the
process
regardless.
“We
don’t
want
to
participate,”
Reeve
Glenn
Koester
told
Metro.
“There’s
nothing
the
city
has
to
offer
us.
So
why
would
we
want
to
be
in
the
mediation?”
Wheatland
County,
along
with
Rocky
View
County
and
the
Municipal
District
of
Foothills,
are
not
part
of
the
plan
and
don’t
currently
sit
on
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership,
which
voted
last
week
to
participate
in
the
mediation.
Both
Rocky
View
Reeve
Rolly
Ashdown
and
Foothills
Reeve
Larry
Spilak
told
Metro
this
week
their
municipalities
are
willing
to
take
part
in
mediation,
although
their
concerns
remain
the
same
over
an
effective
“veto”
they
say
the
plan
gives
Calgary
over
regional
decisions.
Municipal
Affairs
Minister
Doug
Griffiths
announced
the
mediation
process
in
February,
saying
he
hoped
it
would
“help
resolve
this
once
and
for
all.”
Municipal
Affairs
spokesman
Jerry
Wary
said
Thursday
Wheatland
County
need
not
necessarily
be
involved.
“The
minister
has
been
contemplating
whether
Wheatland
needs
to
be
included
in
the
mediation,
given
its
relative
distance
from
the
city,”
he
said.
Details
on
the
mediation
are
still
being
sorted
out
but
Ward
said
it
should
“get
underway
pretty
soon”
as
Griffiths
hopes
to
have
a
report
on
the
process
by
June.
Background:
• The
Calgary
Metropolitian
Plan
led
the
recent,
public
spat
between
Mayor
Naheed
Nenshi
and
Municipal
Affairs
Minister
Doug
Griffiths.
• Nenshi
wants
the
province
to
legislate
holdout
municipalities
into
the
regional
plan,
but
the
province
has
said
it
won’t
do
that.
• Members
of
Calgary
City
Council
believe
the
lack
of
agreement
is
hindering
the
city’s
own
development
plans.

27. 27
•
• CRP
agrees
to
mediation
with
surrounding
municipalities
•
• By:
Derek
Clouthier
•
|
Posted:
Wednesday,
Feb
27,
2013
11:33
am
• The
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
has
agreed
to
enter
into
a
mediation
process
in
an
attempt
to
bring
surrounding
municipalities
to
the
table
and
reach
an
agreement
on
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
(CMP).
• The
CRP
developed
the
CMP,
which
was
approved
in
2009,
to
establish
a
framework
to
guide
the
region
forward
to
ensure
growth
occurs
in
a
sustainable
manner.
• Some
regions,
however,
including
Rocky
View
County
(RVC)
and
the
M.D.
of
Foothills,
chose
not
to
join
the
collaborative
network,
sitting
now
at
14
members
and
includes
the
municipalities
of
Cochrane,
Canmore,
Redwood
Meadows
and
Airdrie,
among
others.
• Rolly
Ashdown,
RVC
reeve,
said
the
county
elected
to
remain
on
the
sidelines
because
of
two
main
factors:
densities
and
governance.
• Ashdown
said
density
suggestions
by
the
CRP
–
eight
to
10
units
per
acre
–
do
not
mesh
with
the
rural
setting
of
the
county.
• The
CRP’s
method
of
governance,
which
for
a
vote
to
pass
requires
the
majority
of
its
members
and
50
per
cent
of
the
population,
is
another
point
of
contention
for
Ashdown,
who
pointed
out
that
Calgary
alone
holds
over
50
per
cent
of
the
CRP’s
population,
leaving
all
other
member
communities
on
the
outside
looking
in.
• Truper
McBride,
Cochrane
mayor
and
CRP
chair,
said
he
hopes
an
agreement
will
be
reached
on
the
plan.
• “We
all
certainly
want
to
have
the
rural
municipalities
come
back
to
the
partnership,”
he
said.
• McBride
added
that
the
CMP
does
not
dictate
levels
of
growth
to
any
specific
municipality,
and
that
each
identifies
its
own
growth
centres,
and
that
is
then
reflected
in
the
plan.
• McBride
also
said
that
if
mediation
fails,
the
provincial
government
will
then
take
it
upon
itself
to
find
a
solution.
• Density
and
governance
aside,
Ashdown
is
optimistic
about
the
upcoming
mediation
process.
• “This
is
a
very
good
thing,”
he
said.
“This
would
be
our
first
opportunity
to
sit
at
the
table.”
• The
suggestion
to
enter
into
mediation
was
presented
to
the
CRP
by
Alberta’s
minister
of
municipal
affairs,
Doug
Griffiths.

28. 28
• Rural
municipalities
must
also
agree
to
enter
into
the
mediation
process,
which
is
set
to
commence
in
March
and
conclude
by
June.
• The
CRP
said
in
a
media
release
that
it
hopes
RVC
and
the
M.D.
of
Foothills
can
reach
an
agreement
on
the
CMP.
• “We
need
everyone
working
together
to
prepare
for
the
more
than
three
million
people
expected
to
live
in
the
Calgary
region
over
the
next
60
years,”
the
release
indicated.
“This
mediation
should
be
the
end
of
a
long
process
of
negotiations.”
• The
CRP
pointed
toward
what
it
called
‘several
efforts’
to
bring
rural
municipalities
to
the
discussion
table
over
the
years,
but
said
none
of
the
offers
or
proposed
amendments
to
the
CMP
were
accepted
by
RVC
or
the
M.D.

29. 29
Ashdown
details
county
ambitions
By
James
Emery,
Airdrie
Echo
Wednesday,
February
27,
2013
11:27:01
MST
AM
Complex
growth
issues,
major
transportation
routes
and
access
to
large
labour
pools
to
fish
from
to
support
local
businesses
are
all
things
Airdrie
and
Rocky
View
County
(RVC)
have
in
common.
That
was
the
message
Rolly
Ashdown,
reeve
of
RVC,
brought
to
the
podium
when
he
gave
his
first-­‐ever
State
of
the
County
address
at
the
Woodside
Golf
Course
in
Airdrie
last
Wednesday.
“It’s
a
great
way
to
let
people
know
the
realities
(in
the
county),”
Ashdown
explained.
“A
lot
of
people
speculate
on
what
the
county
is
doing
and
what
they’re
not
doing.”
Ashdown
addressed
the
Airdrie
Chamber
of
Commerce
during
their
most
recent
networking
luncheon.
He
touched
on
a
variety
of
regional
projects,
a
large
portion
of
which
directly
involved
Airdrie
or
neighbouring
communities.
In
Balzac,
Ashdown
gushed
about
the
1.3-­‐million
sq.-­‐ft
Target
Distribution
Centre
that
recently
opened
and
how
it’s
increasing
job
opportunities
in
the
region.
He
said
the
centre
currently
has
250
employees
and
that
is
expected
to
double
in
the
coming
years.
“Then
they
can
come
back
here
and
spend
money
on
all
of
the
things
you
had
in
mind
for
people
spending
money
on,”
he
said.
“I
hope
that
works
out
really
well
for
Airdrie,
because
it’s
worked
so
great
for
Rocky
View
County.”

30. 30
Meanwhile,
he
brought
everyone
up
to
speed
on
a
few
other
projects,
including
the
Balzac
Fire
Station,
which
became
operational
last
year
near
the
CrossIron
Mills
mall.
As
well,
he
was
excited
for
a
new
project
in
Madden
that
will
see
an
18-­‐hole
golf
course,
21
room
hotel
and
banquet
facility
as
well
as
15
individual
cabins
constructed
in
the
hamlet
northwest
of
Airdrie.
Ashdown
also
took
the
time
to
quell
what
he
said
was
misinformation
regarding
the
construction
of
a
county
municipal
building.
Currently,
RVC
headquarters
is
off
32nd
avenue
in
Calgary
in
a
1970s
building
that
is
“tired
and
small,”
Ashdown
said.
He
wanted
to
make
clear
that
RVC
had
not
approved
a
municipal
building
and
that
the
county
had
not
thought
about
it
“too
deeply.”
He
said
the
county
does
have
a
$30
million
budget
in
mind
if
they
do
eventually
move.
And
if
the
county
sold
their
headquarters
now,
they
would
get
roughly
$20
million,
Ashdown
noted.
“It’s
not
a
bad
deal
for
us
to
spend
some
money,
get
something
that
actually
fits
for
us,
relocate
in
Rocky
View
County,
which
reduces
costs
of
fuel
and
gives
us
the
ability
not
to
have
to
lease
extra
space,”
Ashdown
said.
Ashdown
also
spoke
of
the
completed
road
project
at
Range
Road
292,
part
of
an
annexation
agreement
that
saw
Airdrie
grow
by
approximately
12,000
acres,
Ashdown
noted,
saying
he
hoped
it
was
enough
for
the
city
to
expand
further.
“Hopefully
it
does,
but
if
it
doesn’t,
we
have
about
1,000,000
acres
—
you
can
have
some
more,”
he
laughed.
The
reeve
also
addressed
why
the
county
pays
Airdrie
$170,000
per
year
for
recreation
through
a
cost
sharing
agreement.
“We
recognize
that
our
people
use
your
facilities,”
he
explained,
citing
Genesis
Place
as
a
key
example.
“It
gives
us
the
ability
to
not
build
multi-­‐million
dollar
facilities
for
only
a
few
hundred
thousand
dollars
and
gives
our
people
the
same
benefit.
I
can’t
imagine
changing
that.”
Ashdown
was
also
hopeful
the
proposed
casino
and
racetrack
in
Balzac
would
be
approved
and
be
opened
by
2014.
He
also
updated
those
in
attendance
with
status
of
the
County
Plan.
The
planning
document,
perhaps
better
known
as
a
Municipal
Development
Plan,
is
set

31. 31
to
be
put
before
council
in
early
June
and
approved
by
June
11
following
months
of
public
consultations
across
the
county
to
solicit
feedback
on
what
issues
residents
are
most
concerned
about.
It
details
policies,
programs
and
projects
to
guide
county
development
and
services
over
the
next
decade,
Ashdown
said.
“We’re
going
to
show
the
residents
of
Rocky
View
County
what
we’ve
discovered
came
from
them
so
we
make
sure
we
got
it
right,”
he
said.
Ashdown
also
fielded
questions
and
was
asked
about
why
the
county
isn’t
participating
in
the
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
and
the
future
of
water
in
RVC.
“The
CRP
is
a
great
idea,
it’s
going
to
end
up
being
legislation
some
day,”
he
responded.
“Regional
planning
is
coming
—
we’re
not
going
to
be
able
to
avoid
it.
It’s
a
good
thing.”
But
he
said
for
now,
servicing
and
government
issues
continue
to
be
the
two
main
sticking
points
as
to
why
they’re
resistant
to
return
to
the
CRP.
As
for
water,
Ashdown
said
“there’s
water
everywhere.”
“What
we
have
now
is
way
more
than
what
we
need,”
he
said.
“It’s
enough
to
service
water
in
Rocky
View
County’s
area
to
cover
debt
of
infrastructure
that
brought
us
this
business.”

32. 32
Mediation
for
the
CRP
By
Marco
Vigliotti,
High
River
Times
Friday,
March
1,
2013
1:44:17
MST
PM
Municipal
Affairs
Minister
Doug
Griffiths
says
he’s
confident
an
independent
mediator
will
be
able
to
broker
a
solution
to
a
longstanding
dispute
over
an
expansive
50-­‐year
plan
for
the
Calgary
region.
He
said
the
dispute
between
three
rural
municipalities
-­‐
including
the
MD
of
Foothills-­‐
and
ostensibly
the
City
of
Calgary
over
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
(CMP)
will
be
solved
by
the
end
of
the
mediation
process,
as
the
provincial
government
will
not
allow
the
feuding
communities
to
come
up
short.
“There
will
be
cooperation”
between
the
municipalities
and
mediation
will
resolve
the
dispute,
he
told
a
Feb
14.
conference
of
municipal
politicians.
Griffiths
said
last
month
the
government
would
hold
mediated
talks
over
the
contentious
plan
-­‐which
is
supposed
to
govern
the
future
of
growth,
water
and
transit
for
a
wide
spanning
area
stretching
from
Banff
to
Nanton-­‐
rejecting
pleas
from
Calgary
Mayor
Naheed
Nenshi
to
legislate
the
plan
without
the
consent
of
the
objecting
municipalities.
The
Calgary
Regional
Partnership
(CRP)
-­‐the
group
designing
the
CMP-­‐
voted
at
their
Feb.
22
meeting
to
accept
Griffiths’
plans
for
mediation,
posting
a
message
on
their
website
that
talks
will
begin
this
March
and
wrap
up
by
June.
The
CRP
is
made
up
of
every
major
urban
municipality
in
the
broader
region
including
the
City
of
Calgary,
the
Town
of
Okotoks
and
The
Town
of
High
River.
The
MD
of
Foothills,
Rocky
View
County
and
Wheatland
County
left
the
group
back
in
2009
over
concerns
about
the
control
the
City
of
Calgary
will
have
over
future
development
in
their
jurisdictions
under
the
CMP.
The
rural
municipalities
say
Calgary
overwhelming
dictates
the
CRP
and
worry
the
City
will
be
able
to
veto
any
future
development
that
goes
against
their
plans
to
limit
growth
to
already
developed
areas
in
the
region.
Calgary
representatives
say
limiting
growth
to
densely
populated
corridors
will
allow
for
better
regional
integration
and
ultimately
save
money,
as
communities
won’t
have
to
fund
costly
infrastructure
projects-­‐including
new
roads-­‐
to
service
disparate
areas.

33. 33
Nenshi
to
meet
Redford
over
city
powers
in
March
CBC
News
Posted:
Feb
22,
2013
4:11
PM
MT
Last
Updated:
Feb
22,
2013
3:59
PM
MT
Mayor
Naheed
Nenshi
says
he
has
secured
a
meeting
with
the
premier
to
discuss
greater
powers
for
Calgary,
to
help
pay
for
infrastructure.
Nenshi
has
been
asking
for
what
he
calls
political
leadership
from
the
province,
as
negotiations
drag
on
related
to
the
drafting
of
a
city
charter
for
Calgary
and
the
ratification
of
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan.
There
has
been
a
growing
rift
between
the
mayor
and
the
Redford
government
since
Municipal
Affairs
Minister
Doug
Griffiths
suggested
Nenshi
was
playing
politics
and
acting
like
a
peacock.
Nenshi
was
asked
if
there's
still
tension.
"I'm
not
really
interested
in
the
politics
of
this,
or
the
who
likes
who,
or
all
the
junior
high
school
drama.
I'm
really
interested
in
getting
the
work
done,”
he
said.
“So,
insofar
as
the
work
needs
to
get
done,
sure
there's
some
tension
because
we
gotta
get
the
work
done,”
he
added.
Nenshi
said
he
has
not
had
a
formal
sit
down
meeting
with
Redford
since
her
election.
“The
bureaucracy
can't
be
sitting
down
and
negotiating
this
all
on
their
own
in
the
absence
of
political
leaders,
so
it's
time,”
he
said.
The
meeting
will
take
place
in
late
March.
The
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
would
see
municipalities
in
the
Calgary
area
work
together
on
decisions
about
future
roads,
transit
and
water
in
the
region.
Fourteen
municipalities
are
on
board
with
the
plan
but
three
districts
do
not
support
it.
City
charters
for
Edmonton
and
Calgary,agreed
to
in
principle
in
2012,
would
provide
Alberta’s
big
cities
more
powers.
But
the
negotiations
are
not
where
they
should
be
after
months
of
talking,
Nenshi
has
argued.

34. 34
Metro
plan
impasse
leads
to
water
supply
issues
Rural
projects
tap
distant
reservoirs
By
Jason
Markusoff,
Calgary
Herald
February
18,
2013
CALGARY
—
Calgary
has
ample
water
from
its
state-­‐of-­‐the-­‐art
treatment
plants
that
it’s
willing
to
share
with
neighbours,
provided
they
agree
to
a
few
rules.
But
they
won’t
agree,
and
they’re
looking
for
water
elsewhere
in
a
swath
of
Alberta
with
small
rivers
and
a
tight
water
supply.
Which
means
that
a
1,700-­‐house
development
just
five
kilometres
east
of
city
limits
will
get
water
at
far
greater
cost
from
a
small
reservoir
25
clicks
away
in
Kathyrn
—
and
Rocky
View
County
could
tap
the
project
into
a
source
farther
afield
in
Drumheller,
116
kilometres
away,
from
the
Red
Deer
River.
That
strikes
a
nerve
with
water
conservationists,
who
raged
against
plans
(later

35. 35
abandoned)
to
supply
the
Balzac
megamall
project
with
Red
Deer
River
water
from
Drumheller
after
the
province
closed
the
Bow
River
to
new
applications
for
bulk
withdrawals.
Rolly
Ashdown,
Rocky
View’s
reeve,
has
more
absurd
examples
of
ways
his
municipality
must
work
around
the
long-­‐standing
Calgary-­‐rural
impasse
over
utility
servicing.
A
Balzac-­‐area
commercial
developer
has
a
Calgary-­‐to-­‐Airdrie
water
main
running
underneath
its
land,
but
it
may
not
be
able
to
tap
that
source.
A
development
in
Elbow
Valley
has
a
sewage
pipe
ready
but
unconnected
to
Calgary’s
system,
and
thanks
to
the
dispute
the
wastewater
is
trucked
into
the
treatment
plant.
Then
there’s
Prince
of
Peace
church,
school
and
retirement
village,
a
two-­‐minute
drive
east
of
Calgary
along
the
Trans-­‐Canada
Highway.
“There’s
a
pipe
they
can
throw
a
rock
and
hit.
And
we’re
piping
in
water
from
Kathyrn.
And
it
costs
a
fortune,”
Ashdown
said.
Neither
city
nor
county
think
it
should
be
this
way.
Calgary
is
offering
rural
municipalities
its
water
for
projects
if
they
agree
to
the
Calgary
Metropolitan
Plan
for
future
growth
that
the
city,
Cochrane,
Airdrie
and
all
other
towns
and
villages
have
signed
on
to.
“It’s
not
an
option
because
we’re
not
in
the
club,”
Ashdown
said.
The
surrounding
counties’
refusal
to
sign
onto
the
plan
and
its
long-­‐range,
urban-­‐
suburb-­‐level
density
targets
—
and
the
provincial
government’s
reluctance
to
force
the
counties
to
join
by
legislating
the
plan
—
triggered
Mayor
Naheed
Nenshi’s
name-­‐calling
spat
with
Municipal
Affairs
Minister
Doug
Griffiths
last
week.
Counties
like
Rocky
View,
over
some
protest
among
existing
acreage
residents,
have
begun
approving
developments
at
much
greater
concentrations
than
the
patch
of
two-­‐
acre
lots
that
places
like
Elbow
Valley
and
Springbank
are
best
known
for.
Meeting
the
density
demands
of
the
Metropolitan
Plan,
even
not
until
decades
from
now,
would
be
a
greater
leap
that
demands
tinier
home
lots
and
probably
apartments
that
just
wouldn’t
work
in
the
countryside,
the
reeve
said.
The
developer
of
Buffalo
Hills,
whose
1,700-­‐unit
project
could
begin
selling
lots
this
year
in
the
hamlet
of
Conrich,
said
customers
are
looking
for
something
they
can
no
longer
get
in
Calgary.
“And
that’s
a
larger
lot,
which
means
a
lower
density,”
said
Jim
Kuz,
general
manager
of
Buffalo
Hills
Development
Ltd.
“I
don’t
think
they’re
looking
for
...
an
acreage
development,
but
they’re
looking
for