Council Advocacy

Our Goal:

Phase 1: Secure $88 million in funding to increase the capacity of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant by 6 ML/day (to 45 ML/day from 39 ML/day).
Phase 2: Secure additional $71 million to increase capacity by a further 15 ML/day (to 60 ML/day from 45 ML/day).

The Facts:

• On peak days the wastewater demand exceeds 90% of the current design capacity of the system.
• The City is limited in pursuing economic development opportunities by the lack of capacity at the plant to support future growth.
• Opportunities in the agri-food sector have exceptionally high demands for wastewater.
• The City’s wastewater system supports regional economic growth with 20% of the wastewater received at the plant coming from regional partners.

Our Goal:

Phase 1: Secure $123 million in funding to increase the capacity of the City’s Water Treatment Plant by 30 ML/day (to 180 ML/day).
Phase 2: Secure additional $190 million in funding to increase capacity by a further 70 ML/day (to 250 ML/day from 180 ML/day).

The Facts:

• On peak days, water demand exceeds 90% of the current design capacity of the system.
• The City is limited in pursuing economic development opportunities by the lack of capacity at the plant to support future growth.
• Opportunities in the agri-food sector have exceptionally high demands for water.
• The City’s water system supports regional economic growth with 20% of our treated water going to regional partners.

Our Goal:

Work with the Government of Alberta to address the issue of cuts to provincial funding offsets.  

The Facts:

• Traffic Fine Revenue: The City of Lethbridge has had to continually increase property taxes to cover budget pressures related to the $1.2-million decrease in the municipal share of traffic fine revenues.
• Bill 20: The changes brought by the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, such as the full exemption of non-profit subsidized affordable housing from property taxation, will have an estimated ongoing annual impact to the City of more than $270,000.   

Our Goal:

To seek an increase of capital grant funding through the Local Government Fiscal Framework provincial grant program.

The Facts:

• The City of Lethbridge continues to face budget pressures for capital investment in the community. The City’s 10-year capital plan includes more than $259M of unfunded capital projects. They include projects such as a new Fire Station and a twin arena.
• The City also needs to expand its Water and Wastewater systems to meet growing demands in the city and surrounding region.
• From 2022-2031 MSI/BMTG and LGFF funding for Lethbridge is projected to average $13.9 million/year, which is 34% less than the previous decade.

Our Goal:

Have the Province of Alberta replace the existing 2-lane eastbound Highway 3 bridge over the Oldman River with a 4-lane bridge (to enable 3-lane divided traffic in each direction) and improve the interchanges at Highway 3 and Bridge Drive.

The Facts:

• Highway 3 is owned and maintained by the Province of Alberta and we urge them to act upon the recommendations in the 2009 AECOM report commissioned by Alberta Transportation.
• In addition to serving Lethbridge and regional commuters as well as other travelers, the Highway 3 bridge corridor is a vital component of the Alberta Agri-food corridor.
• The frequency of collisions along the Highway 3 bridge corridor is more than double the frequency along the Whoop-Up Drive crossing.
• Highway 3 is a key connector in case of emergencies on the west side of Lethbridge.
• Implementing the improvements from the 2009 AECOM report will also improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists.

Our Goal:

Seek additional funding and/or resources for addressing issues arising from increased social disorder in public spaces.

The Facts:

• The City of Lethbridge believes in supporting a clean and safe environment for all community members in all public spaces.
• Programs aimed at preventing and/or addressing cleanliness or safety concerns support our community’s economy.
• The operational capacity of existing programs (provincially and/or municipally-funded) aimed at addressing cleanliness or safety concerns is often insufficient to meet high demand for such services.

Our Goal:

Lethbridge is experiencing a shortage of family physicians, nurses and paramedics leaving many residents unattached to a physician and limiting their access to primary care. We recognize this need and the pressure it puts on other healthcare resources as residents seek the care they need. At the City of Lethbridge, we are supporting the work being done by AHS South Zone and their allied partners, such as the Chinook Primary Care Network.  

The Facts:

• In 2021, there were approximately 25,000 – 30,000 Lethbridge residents who were without a family doctor.
• Lethbridge City Council approved a physician shortage action plan, which provides a response to Lethbridge residents who may be without a family physician in Lethbridge.
• The City is participating on the Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) Working Group that is working to build the framework to train physicians locally.

Our Goal:

Seek additional capital and operational funding towards the development of additional supportive housing units in Lethbridge with appropriate supports for high acuity individuals and needs.

The Facts:

• The housing continuum in Lethbridge has critical gaps, the most dire being shortages of capacity and options for emergency shelter and supportive housing.
• Increased investment in supportive housing can support individuals with the highest needs with a pathway out of homelessness and emergency shelters.
• Investing in supportive housing produces a return on investment by reducing the use of emergency services.

Our Goal:

To extend and secure provincial funding for low-income transit passes.

The Facts:

• Low-income transit funding helps to support affordable and accessible transit, helping individuals and families improve their quality of life through better access to participate in their communities, making it easier to get around the city to access jobs, education, health care, community resources and government services.
• As affordability continues to impact an increasing number of residents, the pressure on municipal taxation to sustain a low-income transit pass program will be stretched without an ongoing funding commitment from the Province of Alberta.