Edmonton-area governments should strike a task force to plan this region’s economic and social future following the pandemic, says St. Albert’s mayor.
Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board members voted 11-2 in favour of a motion from St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron to explore the creation of a pandemic recovery task force during an online meeting May 1 (Fort Saskatchewan and Leduc County opposed).
Alberta may be reopening its economy this month in wake of the coronavirus, but it’s wishful thinking to believe that everything will go back to the way it was, Heron said in an interview.
“This is going to be a slow recovery,” she said, and many people will struggle with their social, mental and economic health.
While the province and several Edmonton-area communities (including St. Albert) have all struck their own recovery task forces, Heron said those panels would not have an Edmonton-region focus. The provincial panel is also focused on economics and will not address the many social problems – suicide, addictions and homelessness – linked to the pandemic. With everything shut down, local governments also now have a chance to re-examine their operations to find opportunities for improvement.
Heron said this task force would provide a regional perspective and co-ordinate the work of local and provincial recovery panels to address health, social and economic problems. She proposed that the task force be composed of about 10 volunteers from throughout the region and report back in about 18 months.
Heron told the board they would likely find plenty of volunteers for this panel, given the overwhelming response she’s had for the one in St. Albert.
“There’s an understanding in the region that something can come out of this pandemic and people want to be a part of it.”
Cautious support
Parkland County Mayor Rod Shaigec questioned the value of the task force, given that the province already has one and would take the lead in any recovery efforts as it controls public health orders.
“If we’re going to have a recovery and we’re going to see benefits, it has to be a provincial approach,” he said, adding municipalities should instead co-ordinate plans through groups such as the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association.
Leduc County Mayor Tanni Doblanko said this task force would be redundant and would address issues beyond the EMRB’s mandate. The board should instead work with local experts and focus on economic development.
“This is a great idea that was not well thought out.”
This task force might be redundant, but there’s a definite need to bring all these local recovery ideas together, said Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw.
“I think this is beyond our scope in a lot of ways, but these are unprecedented times, and (they) will require all hands on deck.”
Morinville Mayor Barry Turner said Heron’s proposal was a call to action and a chance to show the world that Edmonton could come together as a region.
“Those that collaborate are going to have the advantage in rebuilding,” he said, and the impacts of this pandemic will be felt long after public health orders disappear.
Mayor William Choy of Stony Plain said it is essential that the metro region work together on this issue.
“This is a defining moment for us,” he said, as few board members would see another pandemic in their lifetimes.
“We have the ability to here to stand up and show what the metropolitan region is all about.”
Board members will study terms of reference for the proposed task force on May 14.
