Council Hears Economic Development Strategy, Trio of Motions at Meeting
City council during its Jan. 20 meeting at city hall. (Photo Kelly Allard)
If there was one thing that was notable during Monday’s city council meeting it was what was not said. Following a decade serving at city hall there wasn’t any recognition of former CFO Dennis Egert who swiftly swept out of the position less than two weeks ago.
Nor was there much in the way of debate over Coun. Shila Sharps notice of motion that she announced two weeks ago regarding the lingering sanction against Mayor Linnsie Clark. That sanction prohibits Clark’s access to parts of city hall and staff. That will be discussed at an in camera meeting at the Feb. 3 council meeting.
But city council did receive an update on the municipality’s regional economic development strategy. It also got a snapshot of how business is being stymied in the downtown and the city’s steep licencing increases through another notice of motion by Sharps.
Council heard from a hired contractor that the city isn’t growth in jobs or population nor is expected to for several years.
“Without interventions, the employment will not rebound to pre-pandemic levels until 2031,” said Paul Blais, a Kingston, Ont.-based economic advisor with Deloitte.
Blais added job growth is predicted to be in the health care and hospitality sectors while, “anticipating declines in employment in agriculture and construction.”
That forecast comes despite the region experiencing all-time record cattle prices, being on the tail end of a nearly billion-dollar regional irrigation expansion and a Hwy. 3 twining project to facilitate an agrifood processing corridor. Additionally, that forecast comes despite the city recently signing onto a 20-year watershed infrastructure construction resilience program as well as the on-going development of a new irrigation district near Acadia Valley. All those projects have received strong provincial support and funding with the federal government also contributing.
But agriculture was featured as one of three sector priorities along with tourism along with aerospace and defence.
On the latter of those priorities, Blais highlighted the potential for development of the defence industry, pointing to CFB Suffield and the facilities it offers.
The base has been at the forefront of unmanned vehicle development going back two decades, starting with autonomous mine detection units before a focus on UAV and drone development. Medicine Hat-based QinetiQ (formerly Meggitt) has been producing unmanned vehicles with it winning a $14 million contract with the US Navy earlier this month for the company’s Vindicator drone.
Blais added that defence space is highly competitive.
But council also heard of concerns by downtown business owners with Sharps introducing a notice of motion that would feature a review of the cost of some business licences.
Sharps said the motion stems from Coun. Darren Hirsch being inundated with emails by downtown business owners.
Coun. Andy McGrogan also filed a notice of motion regarding providing, “further guidance and direction,” to city manager Ann Mitchell regarding recommendations made in October surrounding composition of council commissions.
McGrogan asked fellow councillors to come prepared to discuss the topic at the Feb. 3 council meeting.
“What’s important is that this come back to the forefront. That it be discussed. That council looks at the six recommendations,” said McGrogan of the October report. “You don’t have to agree or disagree but come armed to discuss what of this report is acceptable and what isn’t. I have a few questions as well and I look forward to discussing them with our city manager and council.”