Wheatland County Council passed two motions to lobby the Minister of Seniors, Social and Community Services to adjust for proportional representation on housing management bodies.
Reeve Amber Link introduced two Notices of Motions at the November 12 regular meeting.
The Mail reported in its November 20 edition that Motion 1 reads in part, “That Council support the submission of a letter from the Reeve to the Honourable Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Social and Community Services, urgently requesting a Ministerial Order to adjust Wheatland Housing Management Body’s (WHMB) board representation so that it aligns proportionally with each member municipality’s financial responsibility and for voting board member composition to reflect fiscal liability.”
A second motion reads in part, “That Council direct Administration to draft a resolution for Council consideration and subsequent submission to the Spring 2025 RMA Convention through the District process, requesting that the Government of Alberta amend the governance structure by Ministerial Order of housing management boards across the province to ensure municipal representation aligns with financial contributions.”
“It has come to my attention through conversations with leaders throughout rural municipalities in Alberta there is a disparity between the financial contributions made by municipalities, which are mandated by the Minister of Seniors, Social and Community Services, to be members of housing management and representation of these municipalities on housing management housing boards,” said Link in her presentation. “These disparities can exacerbate situations where there are serious governance issues. A proportional governance model that aligns representation with financial responsibility would foster stronger partnerships, promote accountability and ensure fairer decision making for all municipalities.”
“The backgrounder notes with the WHMB, three villages are collectively responsible for just 1.42 per cent of WHMB’s financial liability, could control reserve decision-making, resulting in an unreasonable scenario where the taxpayers of Wheatland County and the Town of Strathmore, responsible for 97.578 per cent of the liability, lack proportionate influence.”
Division Six Councillor Glenn Koester responded that he was not in favour of the motion.
“I have been thinking long and hard about this motion. I can see why some people think it is unfair, but in this country, this province, this county, people vote, not money. I represent my ratepayers, I’m not representing their money. My ratepayers vote me into council. I sit here and look out for the good of the council. I don’t say ‘that region raises more money, they should have two councillors because of more money.’ You get a councillor according to population,” said Koester. “What you are suggesting is if you have a million dollars, you get to vote, if you have no money, no vote. That’s wrong.”
He also noted when the board was established, the population has changed dramatically. At the time, Strathmore had a population of 786.
Deputy Reeve Scott Klassen indicated that it is worth the Minister taking a look at the situation.
