General Meeting Mannville AB DRAFT MINUTES of September 26, 2008

Attending: Don Whittaker/County of Vermilion River, David Mutabazi/, Richard Coleman/Vegreville, Soren Odegard/County of Two Hills, Ken Baker/, Ward Read/Lloydminster, Bruce Marriott/Vermilion, David Paul/Lac La Biche County, Diane Jenkinson/MD of Bonnyville, Sonny Rajoo/Two Hills, Shelley Griffith/Vermilion, Horace Patenaude/Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, Nathan Taylor/Smoky Lake, Daryl Watt/County of Vermilion River, David Gamracy/County of Vermilion River, Richard Van Ee/County of Vermilion River, Dick Millar/Elk Point, Myron Goyan/Elk Point, Jordan Rumohr/Lamont County, Elsie Howanyk/, Owen Carr/Lakeland DMO, Daryl Frank/, Phyllis Maki/Community Futures-Lakeland, Ernie Isley/Bonnyville, Vic Stapleton/Bonnyville, Shelley Ross/Bruderheim, David Dubauskas/Bruderheim, Glenn Andersen/St. Paul, Verner Thompson/Mannville, Charlene Fisher/Mannville, Jean Vidal/Employment and Immigration, Alice Wainwright-Stewart/Lakeland College, Annette Daniels, Thai Javate, Maryann Robinson

Regrets: Tina Warawa/Andrew, Debra Pelechosky/Cold Lake, Gail Muskego/Cold Lake First Nations, Headley Dennill/Dewberry, Zane Collins/Elizabeth Metis Settlement, Darren Calliou/Fishing Lake Metis Settlement, Johnnie Doonanco/Glendon, Joan Anderson/Innisfree, Ernest Gadwa/Kehewin Cree Nation, Floyd Thompson/Kikino Metis Settlement, Jenelle Saskiw/, Frank Sloan/County of St. Paul, Carol Trider/Vilna, Gail Zaplotinsky/Waskatenau, Tom Houle/Whitefish Lake First Nation

Guests: Kevin Kisilevich/Kalyna Country Judy Woyewitka/Rural Metro Accord Initiative Hon. Lloyd Snelgrove/MLA Vermilion-Lloydminster Len Mitzel/MLA Cypress- Alan Hyland/Chair of Palliser Economic Partnership Al Walkey/Battle River Alliance for Economic Development Dale Beddoes/Battle River Alliance for Economic Development

Handouts: September 26, 2008 Agenda Package, A Rural Development Symposium – October 27- 28Medicine Hat Lodge Brochure

10:10am Task Team Meetings

1.0 Call to Order 10:50 am Don Whittaker, Chair called the meeting to order. Welcome to Mannville from Councilor Verner Thompson.

Motion 08-38 1.0 Agenda Richard Coleman moved to accept the agenda as presented. Carried

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General Meeting Mannville AB DRAFT MINUTES of September 26, 2008 Motion 08-39 2.0 Minutes of AGM With no business from the minutes, Sonny Rajoo moved to adopt the minutes of the May 16, 2008 Annual General Meeting and ratify the motions and elections. Carried

Motion 08-40 3.0 Consent Agenda Ken Baker moved to accept 3.1 through 3.4 of the Consent Agenda as provided. Carried

Rural Metro 4.0 Rural Metro Accord Briefing Accord Judy Woyewitka provided an overview of her work with the Rural Metro Accord. Introduced Thai Javate, HUB Project Officer as the new contact person for the Rural Metro Accord. HUB was the first alliance to establish this accord and secondly the alliance north of has held their inaugural meeting with the City of Edmonton. Training opportunities are shared by Edmonton with HUB members. Tendering opportunities and putting specs together. The City of Edmonton is willing to share their specs. Edmonton is establishing a 311 system as well as a 1.800 system. Judy advised it is up to the HUB membership to decide where you can use the expertise of the City of Edmonton, as they are willing to help. Another key item that was addressed is for HUB members to promote the opportunities of the Rural Metro Accord through their administration.

Kalyna 5.0 Kalyna Country Final Report Country Kevin Kisilevich, Marketing Manager of Kalyna Country provided an overview of the 2008 Ag-Diversification & Rural Tourism Workshops that were sponsored by HUB. These workshops provided valuable information and networking for producers. Kevin also provided an overview of Dine Kalyna.

HUB was recognized in press releases, various ads, invitations, agendas and at the workshops.

Motion 08-41 6.0 Financials Bruce Marriott extended thanks to Cathy and Maryann for their assistance. A balance sheet and income statement was provided. .He is in the process of establishing a variance reporting system with the HUB bookkeeper for future reports.

Moved by Bruce Marriott to accept financial report as provided. Carried

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General Meeting Mannville AB DRAFT MINUTES of September 26, 2008 Roundtable 7.0 Roundtable David Paul, Lac La Biche County Summer busy with tourism, campground attendance up Busy on economic development with visiting companies Oil activity in the north Speakers from Fort McMurray re challenges with oil developments

Owen Carr, Lakeland DMO Partnership marketing with HUB communities Iron Horse Trail use is up Successful media tour of the Iron Horse Trail held this summer

Verner Thompson, Mannville Experiencing a building boom Town is running out of residential lots Recycle program is up and running Watch for golf tournament to be held May 2009

Diane Jenkinson, MD of Bonnyville CAO hired in July New landfill sites New water line Partnering with Lac La Biche, Cold Lake and Bonnyville re Marketing Tourism

Horace Patenaude, Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement Building a new lagoon Upgrading water treatment plan Talking with Education re new school Lots of development

Alice Wainwright-Stewart, Lakeland College New opening at Lloydminster campus Enrollment up by 150 students Looking at opportunities for the Institutional Access Plan Looking at childcare opportunities Email Glenn Charlesworth any recommendations for programs HUB members would like to see offered at Lakeland College

Daryl Frank, Kitscoty Experiencing growth Struggle to keep ahead of development 1 of the 10 ACE communities in Alberta, creating walking trails and looking at establishing a safe pedestrian crossing Volunteer as Co-Chair for the HUB Awareness Task Team

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General Meeting Mannville AB DRAFT MINUTES of September 26, 2008

Shelley Griffith, Vermilion 40% of lots sold near the Provincial Park Partnership agreement with the County of Vermilion River re structure plan Successful fair held in July with 23,000 to 25,000 attendance Struggling with health care

Sonny Rajoo, Two Hills Continuing influx of Mennonite families Minister of Education meeting with them this Monday re need for a school Benefiting from the success of Vegreville and St. Paul Mutual cooperation with County of Two Hills

Richard Coleman, Vegreville Growth in Vegreville Acquired Provincial Government land, entertaining new corporations to the area, ATCO in particular Want to acquire another 45 acres of land to relocate two departments from Nisku Canadian Modular Building Plant, a 90,000 sq. ft. building, soon to open and already have pre-sales Annexation soon complete for industrial park Biodiesel plant to locate in industrial park Updating intermunicipal plan with County of Minburn

Vic Stapleton, Bonnyville Working on a labour project with Chamber of Commerce and business community Completing a housing needs assessment Working on a healthy community initiative

Phyllis Maki, Community Futures – Lakeland Second year where 13 of the northern CF’s host a Youth Camp Held the Northern Youth Camp near Bonnyville Rural Diversification initiatives. Working with HUB would be a good idea as this is a regional initiative. Not like RCED in the past.

Dave Dubauskas, Bruderheim All join in celebrating Bruderheim’s 100th birthday Annexation into Lamont Concern of exporting bitumen to the US

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General Meeting Mannville AB DRAFT MINUTES of September 26, 2008 Nathan Taylor, Smoky Lake Smoky Lake is proud to join the County and Villages to hire David Mutabazi, EDO Pumpkin Festival scheduled for October 4, 2008 and new attraction of dropping an 800 lb. pumpkin on a car Establishing a new water commission Optimistic in talks with an investor to establish a soft cheese factory Creating a development tax initiative for new developments

David Mutabazi, Smoky Lake County Reviewing the strategic plan and looking at ways to implement Has toured the entire region

Daryl Watt, County of Vermilion River Working with the Vermilion River Regional Alliance to develop the region Developing a video of the assets of the communities for marketing purposes Developing of lots in Blackfoot (a 4 phase development) Did their own census where their population increased by 400 Completed intermunicipal plan with Lloydminster Really working strong at building relationships

Al Walkey, Battle River Alliance for Economic Development (BRAED) On behalf of BRAED Chair, Bud James, thank you for the invite to attend Similar issues within alliances BRAED has a good working relationship with HUB and PEP

Glenn Andersen, St. Paul Working with County of St. Paul on the intermunicipal plan Very busy with commercial, residential and industrial developments Developing the east end of town

Myron Goyan, Elk Point “The right place to be” Just completed the 5 year business plan and shared the vision and mission statements Undertaking major capital projects ie. 24/7 water supply Purchased property to expand the industrial park Negotiating with WinAlta on a housing project The Allied Arts Building should be complete early spring

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General Meeting Mannville AB DRAFT MINUTES of September 26, 2008 Elsie Howanyk, Myrnam Celebrated the grand opening of Dove Park in July Working with regional community Working with CF re small marketing opportunities 10 fastest growing village

Soren Odegard, County of Two Hills Ethanol plant at Highland is going ahead Small development of 4 Mennonite families to the area results in a benefit to the County in housing increase Plans to develop 30 stalls at Lac Sante for public use Regional development at Lac Sante, assessments going up Refurbished Jackfish Park

Ernie Isley, Bonnyville Bonnyville continues to grow commercially and residentially New investors in town to the west Best Western opening soon One school under construction Will host the November HUB Executive Management Committee meeting

Alan Hyland, Chair of Palliser Economic Partnership Promoted the symposium entitled “A Rural Development Symposium” to be held at the Medicine Hat Lodge on October 27-28, 2008.

Jordan Rumohr, Lamont County County is busy Bitumen to the south is a battle Industry coming called Alter Energy, in operation early 2010 Staffing issues

Ken Baker, Lloydminster Communities in Bloom; Lloydminster received 5 Blooms Summer games were a great success, 1600 athletes Canadian Professional Chuckwagon, sold out event 4 out of the 5 arenas operating Senior Border Kings have joined Alberta AAA Hockey, great young hockey players Hwy 16 East - $12 million mile is getting fixed Hwy 17 – estimated $40 million to rebuild (joint venture with AB, SK and city) Future Shop and Sport Chek Fourth Tim Horton’s under construction 400+ housing units under construction

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General Meeting Mannville AB DRAFT MINUTES of September 26, 2008 New assisted living of 60 units opened two weeks ago Working on a new nursing home IDP – developed a master plan and thank you to Don Whittaker and Vermilion River County Council for their work.

Thai Javate, HUB Project Officer Report is in the agenda package Investment Attraction Task Team is developing a DVD, a tri- REDA project with BRAED and PEP. The premiere showing will be in Edmonton in November and in the region in January.

Annette Daniels, HUB Project Officer Will be hosting the first Annual Business Luncheon on November 7, 2007 in St. Paul. Please provide Annette a list of people you think should be invited to the event. Expression of Interest was approved August 28, 2008. The $1.2 million RADF proposal to be submitted by November 28, 2008.

Bruce Marriott, Vermilion Have an EDO and things are going good

Transportation 8.0 Transportation Presentation Don Whittaker introduced the Hon. Lloyd Snelgrove, MLA of Vermilion-Lloydminster Constituency who welcomed participants to Mannville. He provided an overview of the establishment of Ministerial working groups. Build on the successes of each others communities. This region is challenged in many ways with prosperity. Dollars have been committed to infrastructure. Appreciate the opportunity for him and his counterpart, Mr. Len Mitzel, to attend today’s meeting and hear about the issues of the communities.

Don Whittaker welcomed Alan Hyland, Chair of Palliser Economic Partnership, who provided a background on the Wild Horse Border Committee working towards increasing the Port of Wild Horse to a 24 hour service. We currently have one major border crossing and need a second one due to the provincial population. In the Spring of 2006, a presentation was made to the State of Montana to open the border 24 hours at Wild Horse. Note: Additional background information was provided in the September 26, 2008 agenda package.

Don Whittaker introduced Len Mitzel, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat who provided a PowerPoint presentation of the potential for an

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General Meeting Mannville AB DRAFT MINUTES of September 26, 2008 alternate north-south 24 hour border crossing. Items presented included: Joint committee included members from Alberta and Montana 80% of our products go to the US amounting in large dollar amounts Corridor doesn’t mean only one route. The farther North, the more east-west routes along Highways 36 and 41. CanaMex is the current route from Mexico, through US and exiting near . The recommendation is to have Highways 36 and 41 as a transportation corridor. $1 billion to twin Highway 63 from Edmonton to Fort McMurray Edmonton has good rail and air freight Prince Rupert is the closest port to Asia, therefore requiring transport via Alberta to the US 5 ports of entry from Alberta to USA Sweetgrass-Coutts is currently the only 24 hour commercial point of entry into Alberta A partnership between CanaMex and P-2-P (Ports to Plains) would be a transportation ladder from Mexico to Alberta. The ladder is comprised of the east-west routes of the CanaMex and P-2-P routes. Len Mitzel will be meeting with the Mayor of Fort McMurray and then attending a BRAED meeting. Len advised the group of the need for support from HUB for the same type of ideas such as the P-2-P where HUB communities work off a corridor. Alberta will become the pillar of Canada as a bridge. Asked for HUB communities to think of ways to support this through companies in the HUB region who would utilize the corridor.

Items of Discussion: With respect to the $1 billion allocated to twinning Highway 63, a suggestion to take those dollars and extend Highway 881 north of Highway 55 Will it be a challenge with the US looking at reducing the ports 24 hour border crossing is a good idea but the bigger issue is the economics of business, ie rail, trucking Everyone wants their highway as part of the corridor Anything that comes to the region is good. Change our mentality to partnership and regionalization rather than our individual communities.

Wrap Up Don Whittaker advised the membership of the importance for them to attend the upcoming Regional Economic Development Alliance (REDA) Review sessions to be held in Elk Point on November 18, 2008 and in Smoky Lake on November 19, 2008.

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General Meeting Mannville AB DRAFT MINUTES of September 26, 2008 Next Meetings The next Executive Management Committee meetings will be held: October 24, 2008 in Lac La Biche November 28, 2008 in Bonnyville

Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 3:00pm

The HUB To Do List What Who Provide Annette Daniels with names of people to be invited to the 1st HUB Members Aboriginal Business Luncheon that will be held in St. Paul on November 7, 2008. Watch for invitation to attend the upcoming REDA Review sessions HUB Members (Nov 18 in Elk Point and Nov 19 in Smoky Lake) Upon receipt, provide copy of Mr. Len Mitzel’s PowerPoint presentation Maryann Robinson to the HUB members.

Respectfully submitted, Maryann Robinson

Don Whittaker, Chair Bruce Marriott, Secretary/Treasurer

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