ST. PAUL – Town of St. Paul and County of St. Paul officials have expressed concern about a lack of infrastructure funding in the 2024 Alberta Budget tabled on Feb. 29.
County of St. Paul Reeve Glen Ockerman told Lakeland This Week that provincially, “It is a good budget,” considering the current state of Alberta and he was happy to see things such as the increased budget in healthcare.
Ockerman says he’s heard from some ratepayers and residents that healthcare is improving, and he agrees – with some hesitation. “I’m not saying we’re there yet,” and healthcare remains a major concern.
With the population growth Alberta is seeing, it’s putting the healthcare system under stress, “And I’m not sure how we can address that one,” acknowledges Ockerman.
Infrastructure
Municipally, he expresses some concern for the St. Paul region. Ockerman is disappointed that there are no significant dollars coming to the region, particularly with funding to replace wastewater and water infrastructure.
“We were sort of hoping that we might see more in the budget to address some of the aging infrastructure in Alberta,” says the reeve.
The County of St. Paul is currently trying to find ways to fund an approximately $23 million project to replace water distribution and wastewater collection systems in Lottie Lake, Ashmont and Mallaig – also known as the LAM Project. He says these water and wastewater lines were built in the mid-1900s.
He acknowledges that there are many projects that need to be done across the province, but he believes that replacing aging infrastructure needs to be a priority.
“Every year, costs to replace infrastructure keeps going up. I’m scared if we just leave it for too much longer, we won’t be able to afford it.”
The LAM Project and a lack of funding from the province was also a topic of discussion during the March 12 County of St. Paul council meeting.
During discussions, Coun. Kevin Wirsta said $539 million was allocated to support municipal water supply and wastewater infrastructure. “I don’t know how it’s being presented or how it’s being allocated,” he said.
Speaking about the LAM Project, Coun. Darrell Youghans said, “It’s pretty clear that without contributions from the federal and the provincial governments, this project won’t go ahead.”
The County continues to look for ways to fund the project.
Costing more to provide the same services
Ockerman is concerned about a lack of funding to help the County cope with increased costs to provide the same level of services to residents. With an influx of new people coming into the municipality, and increased costs of providing services, more funding is needed, he says.
The Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) will provide $722 million in capital funding to municipalities this year. If it passes, the County will receive $1.3 million, and the Town of St. Paul will receive $914,254.
It seems rather than increased funding, municipalities are expected to pay for more, says the reeve, which was the case a few years ago when some policing costs were passed down to the County of St. Paul.
“We’re always hoping for more funding,” says Ockerman. “We’d even be happy if they took back some of the services [the province] downloaded to municipalities, like the policing. That’d be $400,000 more we can put to other services.”
Town of St. Paul
Town of St. Paul Mayor Maureen Miller echoed similar sentiments, noting a lack of funding coming to the Town from the province.
“The Town didn’t get anything,” she states.
While she is grateful for the numerous grants that helps study areas of improvement in the municipality, like the health of lakes, and studies on how to improve trail systems, there is little funding to actually help the Town to deal with issues in infrastructure.
“We have not received infrastructure money for a very long time,” she said.
Senior housing
Also, another issue of concern for Miller is senior housing. The Town, along with partner municipalities and the MD Foundation, continues to wait to see if a grant proposal for the rebuilding of Sunnyside Manor has been successful.
So far, there have not been any announcements from the province.
“Maybe the government has other ideas we’re not aware of... [so] that’s still in the pot,” said Miller.
This year, the provincial government budgeted $257 million to Seniors Lodge, Social Housing, Specialized Housing, Affordable Housing Strategy and Rental Assistance, an increase of $38 million. But Miller is not sure if the Town is included as a recipient for any funding.
Regionally, she is glad that, at least, Highway 881, is now included in a budget line. Improving the highway has been a concern for municipalities in the Lakeland. The tabled budget allocated $97 million for improving Highway 881 between Lac La Biche County and the Hamlet of Anzac.
Highway 28
Miller – and many other municipal officials - were hoping to also see budget allocations to improve Highway 28. Miller said Highway 28 is crucial to economic corridors in the region, and municipalities in the area have been working hard to ensure its functioning well.
But with all that work and seeing no money from the province other than the funding previously allocated to study the highway, it is discouraging, she says.
“It’s just very frustrating.”
