Mayor Veer reflects on last weeks Provincial Budget: City and region need health care boost from Province!

Mayor Veer’s response to the release of the 2018 Provincial Budget

Municipal infrastructure funding retained but local health and social infrastructure needs not met in this provincial budget

The 2018 provincial budget announcement means Red Deer will continue to see municipal infrastructure funding for three more years, but it does not fully address regional requests for health and social infrastructure.“One of our great concerns heading into this budget was the future of Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding. We are pleased that municipal capital funding is stable for now, as The City’s capital plan relies heavily on this source,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “Each year, we build our budgets with community and province building in mind, which necessitates a focus on infrastructure.”In this year’s provincial budget, there is, however, only $1 million of $4.6 billion in provincial health capital dollars over the next five years, allocated to Red Deer for capital health planning.

“This is a small step in the right direction, but our community efforts are not yet finished because capital dollars for the expansion of the Red Deer Regional Hospital are not identified in the five-year plan. The study will likely recommend substantial funding, and we cannot wait five years for detailed planning or construction while we are in an emergency situation.”

In addition to a continued commitment of Municipality Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding, the Province is also investing in affordable housing with a commitment to 400 new units shared across eight communities, including Red Deer. The Province also referenced Red Deer College’s degree granting status although there were no specific dollars allocated.

“The Province indicates The City’s major capital grant, MSI, will remain relatively stable over the next three years. We are pleased to see that the province has committed to having a new funding system in place when MSI expires in 2022, and we look forward to working collaboratively with the Province in this planning process,” said City Manager Craig Curtis.

But there are still some unknowns for Red Deer following yesterday’s announcement.

Although the opioid crisis was mentioned, there is no capital funding identified for a shelter or treatment centre in Red Deer.

As it pertains to policing, the province highlighted increased funding for rural policing, but no additional funds for urban policing, which increases a long-standing inequity within the region. However, the Province’s decision to focus on rural crime will help with the overall crime challenges in the region.

“With our location on the QEII between Calgary and Edmonton, crime reduction and community safety continues to be a priority for Red Deer,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “The Province’s decision to focus on rural crime will help in the sense that crime is fluid between borders, but this funding is inequitable as urban centres such as Red Deer continue to focus on crime reduction,” said Veer.

In addition, the province increased funding for the justice centre from $97 million to $181 million and spread this funding out until 2023.

With yesterday’s provincial budget announcement, the amount of education requisition the City of Red Deer is required to collect on behalf of the Province will increase by 1.15 per cent for 2018.

The impact on property tax notices will be calculated in April when the approved municipal operating budget is combined with the education requisition and tax rates are set by Red Deer City Council.

Related Topics:City of Red Deer feature Mayor Tara Veer

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Canada ends scoring drought at men’s World Cup but can’t hold off Croatia

Published on November 27, 2022

The Canadian Press

Umm Şalāl ‘Alī – Canada wasted little time Sunday ending its scoring drought at the men’s World Cup via Alphonso Davies but could not hold off Croatia, losing 4-1 to end its hopes of reaching the tournament’s knockout round.

Ranked 12th in the world and runner-up to France four years ago in Russia, Croatia is filled with talent from top clubs and its class showed in rallying from an early 1-0 deficit.

Two goals by Andrej Kramaric and one by Marko Livaja accounted for the Croatian comeback. Lovro Majer added a stoppage-time goal in the 94th minute on a two-on-none attack.

The 41st-ranked Canadians started with a bang with a Milan Borjan goal kick finding Cyle Larin at midfield. Larin controlled the ball deftly with his foot and sent it over to Tajon Buchanan down the right flank. Buchanan surged ahead, took two touches, lifted his head and sent in a cross that Davies, soaring through the air high above fullback Josip Juranovic, headed home past goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

The Canadians came into the contest — the first-ever meeting between the two countries — needing at least a point to keep alive their hope of advancing out of the group stage with coach John Herdman calling it “one of those do-or-die games.”

Croatia also needed a result after tying Morocco 0-0 in its opener.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2022

National

Canada ends scoring drought at men’s World Cup but can’t hold off Croatia

Published on November 27, 2022

The Canadian Press

UMM ŞALĀL ‘ALĪ, Qatar — Canada wasted little time Sunday ending its scoring drought at the men’s World Cup via Alphonso Davies but could not hold off Croatia, losing 4-1 to end its hopes of reaching the tournament’s knockout round.

Ranked 12th in the world and runner-up to France four years ago in Russia, Croatia is filled with talent from top clubs and its class showed in rallying from an early 1-0 deficit.

Two goals by Andrej Kramaric and one by Marko Livaja accounted for the Croatian comeback. Lovro Majer added a stoppage-time goal in the 94th minute on a two-on-none attack.

Croatia also needed a result after tying Morocco 0-0 in its opener.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2022

The Canadian Press