Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung and town council left the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) convention in Edmonton feeling optimistic that provincial ministers will take care of outstanding projects in our community.
Genung and council had the opportunity to meet - face to face - with several ministers including Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure; Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation and Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations.
“They were receptive and open to hear from us, and listen,” he said Tuesday from his office. He discussed Cochrane’s proposed pathway from Historical Downtown to the Provincial Building parking lot and across the train tracks to the site of the town’s future transit hub and innovation centre.
Genung said Panda was impressed that he and his council spoke about Cochrane’s growth and potential instead of just asking for “handouts” from the province.
He noted that initially the province wanted a different path to the future site, but council made a proposal with some changes, and they accepted.
“We came with a solution,” Genung said.
Panda also said that an “upgrade is needed” to the corner of Highway 1A and Highway 22 in Cochrane. Genung said changes were expected several years ago when the NDP government was in power. Those changes never came.
“Hopefully the UCP will get this piece of infrastructure in their budget,” Genung said. The provincial budget will be released on October 24.
Minister of Transportation Ric McIver discussed Cochrane’s growing population and the need to secure water licensing for the town’s anticipated growth. Genung noted that the town’s current license covers a population of 40,000 people, and it is “nearing that mark”. If the town continues to attract commercial and industrial businesses as well as big tech companies, the town will need to increase what is covered under the current license.
“We need to have a secure water supply,” Genung said.
Lastly, Genung and council met with Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing. They discussed proposed upgrades to Big Hill Lodge on Carolina Drive in Cochrane. The senior’s home was built in 1977 and hasn’t seen an expansion since 1982. Pon will be touring the site on Friday this week.
The convention took place from September 25-27 in Edmonton and invited elected officials from across the province.
