Northeast Alberta Information HUB Board/Membership Meeting Minutes September 17, 2018, Portage College, St
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Northeast Alberta Information HUB Board/Membership Meeting Minutes September 17, 2018, Portage College, St. Paul, Alberta Attending: Bob Buckle/City of Cold Lake, Caroline McAuley/Town of Vermilion, Soren Odegard/County of Two Hills, Lorin Tkachuk/Lac La Biche County, Cheryle Eikeland/Marwayne, Ross Whitelaw/Smoky Lake, Greg Sparklingeyes/Whitefish Lake, Tim MacPhee/Vegreville, Stan Delorme/Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, Steve Upham/St. Paul County, Judy Schueler/Bruderheim, Bev Lockett/Portage College, Jocelyne Lanovaz/Mannville, Lonnie Wolgien/County of Vermilion River, Mike Krywiak/M.D. Bonnyville, Terri Hanson/Elk Point, Jason Kowal/Mundare, Ed Sosnowski/Myrnam, Jana Rowe/Lac La Biche County, Diane Jenkinson/M.D of Bonnyville, Don Ramanko/Vilna, Guy Gervais/Portage College, Heather Perryman/Kitscoty, Mary Lee Prior/Vermilion, Gary Ward/St. Paul, John Anderson/Thorhild County, Jody Quickstad/Mannville, Katlin Ducherer/Lloydminster, Laurent Amyotte/St. Paul County, Robert Pulyk/Vermilion, Corinne McGirr/County of Vermilion River, Lorne Halisky/Smoky Lake County, Andrew Serba/Cold Lake, Diane Harms/Lakeland College,Karyann Boychuk/Alberta Labour, James Tessier/ED&T, Bob Bezpalko/Alberta HUB, Jennifer Leroux/Alberta HUB, Kathryn Hotte/RABC, Regrets: Sherri Chissan/University at Blue Quills/ Special Guests: MLA David Hanson. MLA Jessica Littlewood, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of ED&T Michael Ede/WCDIA 1.0 Soren Odegard called the meeting to order at 10:10am Soren welcomed everyone and began roundtable introductions Soren introduced MLA David Hanson (St. Paul/Lac La Biche/Two Hills) who provided remarks 2.0 Soren asked for a motion to adopt the Agenda – Tim MacPhee moved adoption of the agenda with the addition of 2.1 motion to accept the City of Lloydminster as Alberta HUB member. Carried 2.1 Soren moved to accept the City of Lloydminster as a member of Alberta HUB member. Hearing no further discussion Carried 3.0 Soren asked for a motion to adopt the June 20, 2018 Alberta HUB Board meeting minutes. Caroline McAuley moved the June 20, 2018 Alberta HUB Board meeting minutes be accepted Hearing no further discussion Carried www.albertahub.com 4.0 Soren called upon Jennifer Leroux to provide the Financial report as of August 31, 2018 Hearing no further discussion Soren asked for a motion to accept the financial report as Presented. Caroline McAuley moved to accept the financial report as presented. Carried 5.0 Soren spoke to the Role of Elected Officials course taking place in Lac La Biche, October 29, Vermilion, October 20th, Bruderheim, October 19 and Two Hills, November 7. Elected officials are urged to take in this course as well as CAO’s and senior directors. Alberta HUB will be providing financial support to each community offering this course to off set expenses. 6.0 Soren asked the membership/board to review the request from Lakeland College for a support Letter towards their funding request for a Commercial Agriculture technology access center. Information was included in the agenda package. Hearing no further discussion Steve Upham moved to approve and provide a letter of support. Carried 7.0 Soren called up Kathryn Hotte SBA to provide an update on the activities of the RABC. Kathryn advised the membership/board that she will be moving to Edmonton as her husband Was promoted and accepted a position in Edmonton as of November 1, 2018. Kathryn advised That she would like to remain involved with the RABC/ providing business support services in the Alberta HUB region. Soren thanked Kathryn for her presentation as well as for the great work providing business Support services throughout the Alberta HUB region. Bob advised the membership that the GOA/Economic Development & Trade (ED&T) is reviewing the RABC program which consists of 4 RABC offices (Hanna/Camrose/Rocky Mountain House/Cold Lake) and there is a chance that the funding for this program will end as of June 30, 2019. Bob advised that it will be business as usual until June 30, 2019 ensuring all services will be provided as per the grant agreement with ED&T. Bob also stated that the ED&T funding could continue however the membership should be prepared for all possibilities. Soren advised that this agenda item is for discussion purposes and to get feedback from the Membership on the value of this program in the Alberta HUB region and should funding from ED&T end as of June 30, 2019 how might this program or a revised business support program move forward and what will Alberta HUB’s role be if any. It was noted that the City of Cold Lake is considering supporting a business support program should the RABC ED&T funding end. Jessica Littlewood, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of ED&T said she will take all the comments She has heard and will follow up on the status of the RABC program Soren asked Kathryn to leave the room as the membership wanted to discuss Kathryn’s position as well As her performance as the SBA. www.albertahub.com After discussing all the possible options as well as the value of this program, Soren asked Bob to provide options to this program and what might Alberta HUB’s Role be at the December 3, 2018 meeting. Bob advised that he will inform the Chair and the executive committee should any updates On the RABC program be provided. All new information will be provided at the next Alberta HUB board/membership scheduled for December 3, 2018. 8.0 Regional Economic Development Alliance funding update REDA program Please note that this funding is separate from the RABC program discussed in item 7.0 Soren advised that as of April 1, 2019 the REDA program (9 REDAs) will be entering the Final year of their 5-year funding agreement with Economic Development &Trade. Each REDA receives $100,000/year to operate providing the membership contribution is A minimum $25,000 and all activities meet the grant requirements/deliverables. A decision was made by the REDAs that the discussion with ED&T begin on another 5 year Funding agreement to commence April 1, 2020. A draft proposal was created asking for increased funding for each REDA and a copy of this Proposal has been provided in the Alberta HUB agenda package for review. Soren stated that this is a starting point and after his review he has no issue with it. Hearing no further discussion Soren advised he will keep the membership updated on any developments concerning the REDA program. 9.0 Membership Update - Bob advised that the Town of Athabasca and the County of Athabasca Have expressed interest in the Alberta HUB alliance. 10.0 Alberta HUB projects (update)- Bob reviewed and updated the following projects: Broadband/Connectivity – ATCO Telecom Bob advised that the desired outcome of this “project” is to provide an “open access” internet Highway (infrastructure) allowing ISP’s to provide their services. This addresses the need for Infrastructure, capacity, affordability, reliability and choice. Atco has had discovery conversations with Smoky Lake and the Vermilion River region and are planning to hold more to ensure they are aware of all the issues and how they can work with each community to address the specific needs. Please note that the Digital Futures Symposium is taking place October 17, 18 and 19th in Vermilion. This is a very valuable event providing updated information on “broadband” in Alberta. Atco confirmed their attendance. Bob informed the membership/board that the Northern Alberta Hemp project is now known as “Hemp Alberta Northern Advantage” (HANA). Community/Regional information has been provided To potential investors through this project. A transportation analysis study (draft) was conducted and Copies were provided at the meeting. This reviewed all locations that submitted site selector surveys. Bob informed the members that the International Hemp Fibre Processing symposium is coming up the Week of October 14 in Vergeville (Innotech). www.albertahub.com The symposium is designed to demonstrate Canada’s leadership in hemp fibre processing and secondary manufacturing. Participants will witness the Canadian hemp fibre value chain including on‐ farm production, material handling and transportation, decortication and manufacturing. Participants will broaden their understanding of the applicability of Canadian hemp fibre in automotive parts, erosion control blankets, growth mats, building materials and other end‐products. A list of national and international companies invited was provided. Bob advised that communities consider attending the reception hosted by the town of Vegreville on the evening of October 16…………… Bob advised that there has been no update on the highway 28 study or HLC study. The EATC initiative is moving forward with Alberta HUB and PEP. BRAED has left this Initiative. 11.0 Aerospace Technology & Defense report presentation: Bob introduced Michael Ede from the Western Canadian Defense Industry Association (WCDIA) who presented the findings of this report. Soren thanked Michael for his presentation and the work that went into it. Soren advised that the meeting scheduled for November 19 has to be rescheduled as it conflicts With the RMA convention. After a brief discussion It was moved to (Monday) December 3, 2018 Soren adjourned the meeting at 2:20 pm ______________________________ __________________________ Soren Odegard Caroline McAuley Chair Sec/Treasurer www.albertahub.com .