Councillor Paul Harris forwarded a motion asking the city to consider advocating for an energy retrofit program. The city adopted the motion, and is now a leader among Alberta’s cities in this arena.
It was not unanimous among the councillors, and it was not expected to achieve unanimity, actually it was uncertain if it would garner a majority vote.
This motion may not accomplish what it hopes, but it did turn a page. This motion addressed issues like the environment, economics, unemployment, diversity and the future. It expanded our thinking outward after years of looking inward, concentrating on inner issues like downtown revitalization. I am pleased because I have yet to find any successes, where the mayor claims it is due to downtown revitalization.
Paul Harris has been bruised while on city council, he has carried the baggage of issues like the bike lanes and could have kept his head down. He did not, he persevered and took unpopular stances, many of which I argued against, but he kept going and with this latest motion, he can hold his head high.
There are those who believe that this is wrong, it is outside the status quo, it will take away from other issues, it will take attention away from areas like our downtown, and it is different. I would like to see the city concentrate on building a recreation centre and a high school north of the river and develop Hazlett Lake as a tourist destination and staycation paradise, but I also know that we are a region with the poorest air in a province that has the poorest air quality in Canada. I also know that we have an extremely high unemployment rate, and this motion addresses both.
Red Deer’s population is declining, Municipal census says 1,000 fewer residents last year but the Federal census says it was only 400 residents last year, but either one shows a declining population from 2015 to 2016. This may attract new businesses, new jobs, and new residents, I believe so.
The city has been mired in mediocrity and status quo inner circles for too long. All the indicators have shown this, increasing crime rates, population decline, businesses leaving, poor air, high unemployment and lack of serious effort around the neglect of the area north of the river, which by the way had population decline rate nearly ten times per capita higher than the south side of the river.
Perhaps the adoption of this motion may mean the consideration of other issues that have been too long ignored. Instead of diluting our provincial advocacy efforts it might get us noticed, again? I think so.
Rumor has it that Paul Harris may not run in this year’s municipal election. I hope that is but a rumor, because I think Red Deer needs people who have vision and willing to propose different ideas. Besides I would miss criticizing some of his other proposals.
I thank the city for taking the lead on this, It took courage. Thank you.