This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes a survey to gauge the economic effects of the Alberta separatist movement, a neighbourhood renewal plan for Beacon Heights, and a proposed development on the northeast end of Stony Plain aiming to create jobs.
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has launched a survey asking members of the business community to share their thoughts on how the rise of Alberta separatism is affecting them. The survey closes on March 5.
"While such discussions are part of democratic discourse, they may have implications for business confidence, investment decisions, and economic planning," the survey's preamble says.
This sentiment-gathering follows Elections Alberta's approval of Stay Free Alberta's campaign to collect signatures for a petition to call a referendum on whether Alberta should cease to be part of Canada. The petition, spearheaded by Mitch Sylvestre of the Alberta Prosperity Project, began canvassing on Jan. 3.
By May 2, the petition must gather 177,732 signatures, which represents 10% of the votes cast in the last provincial election. The signatures will then be reviewed by Elections Alberta, and if deemed successful, the petition will be submitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
The separatist push was preceded by the Forever Canadian campaign, a pre-emptive strike led by former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Thomas Lukaszuk that gathered more than 400,000 signatures on a petition posing the question "Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?" Lukaszuk emphasized the economic consequences of separation in an open letter.
"History has shown us the economic devastation that results from discussions of separation or secession," he wrote, citing negative consequences in Quebec, the United Kingdom, and Spain's Basque region. "Alberta must not follow that path."
Forever Canadian's question could be put to a referendum alongside nine questions put forward by Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP. Those questions ask if the province should be given more control over immigration and appointed judges, whether access to social services should be revoked from non-citizens, and whether proof of citizenship should be required to vote, among other queries. The referendum will send Albertans to the polls on Oct. 19.
On Feb. 25, Alberta separatists canvassed for signatures outside the constituency office of MP Matt Jeneroux, who recently crossed the floor to join the federal Liberal party. (Sara Sheydwasser)
Here are some other opportunities to provide input in the Edmonton metro region:
- Until Feb. 28: Edmonton is seeking community feedback on Wîhkwêntôwin neighbourhood renewal.
- March 3: St. Albert will hold public hearings on two redistricting bylaws.
- Until March 4: Edmonton is looking for input on neighbourhood renewal in Parkview.
- March 5: Stony Plain is holding an open house to review plans for industrial and commercial land development on the northeast side of town.
- March 9: The City of Leduc is holding a public hearing to rezone a patch of urban reserve land for residential and recreational uses.
- March 10: Sturgeon County is holding a public hearing about a Morinville redistricting application.
- Until March 11: Edmonton has launched a survey on renewal of the Beacon Heights neighbourhood, and will be holding a drop-in event on March 7 about the project.
- Until March 18: Parkland County has launched a survey on water and wastewater services to build a master plan.
- March 23: The City of Leduc is holding a public hearing to rezone some land for residential and recreational purposes.
- Until March 27: Leduc County has launched its citizen satisfaction survey.
- Until March 29: Devon RCMP have issued a policing priorities survey.
- Until March 31: The City of Leduc has launched its annual budget planning and citizen satisfaction survey.
- Until April 2: Edmonton is looking for innovative infrastructure partnerships to meet the city's growing population, identifying opportunities at Woodcroft Library, the Cumberland and Big Lake fire stations, and the Windermere North Transit Centre and Arenas.
- Ongoing: Fort Saskatchewan is collecting feedback on policing priorities.
- Ongoing: The Town of Gibbons has opened a survey asking residents if Gibbons should remain a town or be dissolved into a Sturgeon County hamlet. This comes after the town's poor financial state came to light.
"Your turn" is Taproot's weekly collection of public engagement opportunities in the Edmonton region. Watch this space every Friday for opportunities to make your views known.