The Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) looks like it will lose one of its members.
The Town of High River made the announcement of its intent to withdraw as a member of the CRP on April 8, much to the dismay of the partnership’s chair Truper McBride.
“Although we are saddened to see them leave,” McBride stated in a response on the CRP website, “we respect their decision to do what they feel is in their municipality’s best interest.”
High River’s announcement comes during a time of transition for the CRP, with partnership being involved in mediation with surrounding municipalities and McBride’s recent declaration that he would step down from his position as chair (in addition to not running for re-election as mayor of Cochrane).
The mediation process, which the CRP agreed to in February as per the recommendation of Alberta’s minister of municipal affairs, Doug Griffiths, is an attempt to come to an agreement with regards to the Calgary Metropolitan Plan (CMP).
The CRP developed the CMP, approved in 2009, to establish a framework to guide the region forward to ensure growth occurs in a sustainable manner.
In addition to High River’s recent announcement, the CRP has had ongoing negotiations with Rocky View County and the M.D. of Foothills, both of which have not agreed to be members of the partnership, citing various reasons, such as density expectations and how the CRP is governed.
The CRP’s system of governance requires the majority of its members and 50 per cent of the population for a motion to be approved. The fact that Calgary holds 50 per cent of the CRP’s overall population has raised concerns for some of the outlying member communities.
With membership in the CRP being voluntary, McBride said he would welcome High River back into the fold if the community so chose in the future.
“We thank High River for all their contributions in helping the CRP move forward,” McBride indicated. “They were always a valued member of the partnership.”
McBride wrote that the CRP being voluntary and diverse can be a ‘double-edged sword.’
“There will be times when communities may want to join or leave the organization,” he said, respecting each municipality’s decision. “But a majority of the member municipalities are committed to the partnership and the benefits of working together in the Calgary region.”
High River has a population of 13,000 and has been the site of such films as The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Brokeback Mountain, as well as the CBC series Heartland. Attempts to contact High River’s mayor, Emile Blokland, were not successful.
