Regional partnership tackles local concerns

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In an effort to improve and develop municipal services, 15 communities have joined forces to form the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP). The Tsuu T'ina Nation is the only Aboriginal community currently involved in the partnership. Peter K. Manywounds, a special project consultant with Tsuu T'ina, said what made CRP attractive was its emphasis on collaboration rather than being a new level of government.

Officially established on May 14, the volunteer organization provides a forum for communities to discuss ways they can better deliver municipal services across the region, protect the environment, and implement regional strategies for economic development.

Bill McAlpine, the CRP chair and mayor of Okotoks, said the partnership fosters "a general climate of co-operation and collaboration" where communities will work together to tackle issues such as water and waste management, transportation, emergency response and communications.

McAlpine said economic development has become a special focus for CRP communities.

"As we mature, we will become more globally competitive with the Edmonton region...or Salt Lake City or Phoenix or Kansas City. We need to be globally competitive in a North American market and this helps us go down that road in my opinion ... we hope to improve our competitive advantage in the Alberta advantage, let's put it that way," said McAlpine.

Manywounds said the partnership allows all participants to bring to the table their own agenda.

"Everybody has their own approval process, none of which is actually put on the table. What is there is a discussion about how do you mutually work together in those areas you can agree to, to benefit everybody. And how do you understand what other people are doing in relation to what you're doing and what impacts are there? It's information sharing, planning in a very global context," he said.

The Tsuu T'ina Nation operates 18 businesses in the community, which includes two golf courses and a business park development. The community is working with the province and the city of Calgary on the Sarcee Trail extension and a casino development. Ecotourism is another area that could be prosperous for the community and its surrounding regions.

"If the regional partnership is able to achieve a higher level of visits from tourists as a destination, and we're part of that, and we help increase that, we're going to benefit as well. So that's sort of a symbiotic relationship that is fundamental to the way the regional partnership works. The more successful we are, the more successful others will be and vice versa," said Manywounds.

"We offer a unique cultural component ... they won't otherwise have in the region, which makes us a valuable component for the European and the Asian markets in particular, but also for the Canadian and North American market. So that's something that again, is a mutual benefit."

In addition to the economic benefits, Manywounds said the partnership provides more opportunities for communication between regions so they can stay informed about issues that concern each of the CRP communities.

"I think (it provides) better understanding both ways about our neighbors and who they are and what they do and what their plans are. Because, as I say, they do have an impact. Air, water, and fish and wildlife do not have borders, so those kinds of management things are important for us and we can't do them on our own. That's something that we have to work in partnership with people for. So those are some significant benefits."

McAlpine said the members of the CRP committee are having informal discussions with the Stoney Tribal Administration about the possibility of joining the partnership.

McAlpine added that members of the Siksika First Nation, which is located roughly 110 km east of Calgary, has not expressed interest in becoming involved with the organization. Robert Breaker, band manager of the Siksika Nation, said he as not heard of CRP.

CRP has an operating budget of $2.4 million. The 14 municipalities and jurisdictions that make up CRP include Tsuu T'ina, Airdrie, Calgary, Black Diamond, Canmore, Chestermere, Cochrane, High River, Strathmore, Turner Valley, Big Horn, Foot Hills, Rocky View, Redwood Meadows and Okotoks.