‘ SPRING convention15 Convention Highlights March 16-18, 2015 March 16 - Trade Show TRADE SHOW With over 140 booths, this year’s AAMDC Spring Trade Show was filled with products, services and ideas for our members to discover. The diverse set of exhibitors included everything from library systems, cellular services and census options to wetland conservation and auto parts. Many exhibitors brought in equipment for attendees to see firsthand including graders, tires, street sweepers and traffic signs. Every year the Trade Show is a great opportunity for AAMDC members to see the products they are purchasing up close and this year was no different. As the Trade Show came to a close, members and suppliers were invited to the AAMDC Aggregated Business Services Open House sponsored by Fortis Alberta to meet and engage with Aggregated Business Services staff members. Mike Pashak from Fortis Alberta was on hand to draw for the Trade Show grand prize of an Apple iPad. AAMDC Aggregated Business Services (ABS), which is comprised of the Trade Division, PFA Canada, and Jubilee Insurance Agencies, continues to focus on delivering excellent member services. This year, we have increased our staff compliment by adding Carolyn Boyle as a Manager of Client Relations, and Dayna Johnson as a Risk Management Advisor. These additions coupled with improving technology platforms in Trade and PFA Canada, represent our commitment to adding value to the ABS offerings. This year, the Trade Division has again negotiated deeper discounts, Jubilee Insurance has been able complete its appraisal program, and PFA has grown significantly in several provinces. These achievements have resulted in one of the strongest years that ABS has ever had. We will continue to enchance our customer service programs in the coming year and, as such, members can expect to see a mobile technology presence by summer 2015. 2 AAMDC Spring 2015 Convention Trade Show Focus AAMDC Spring 2015 Convention 3 March 17 - Convention OPENING CEREMONIES The 2015 AAMDC Spring Convention kicked off with remarks from President Al Kemmere who welcomed over 600 attendees from around Alberta who filled the Shaw Conference Centre to hear from provincial leaders, voice their ideas on current issues and engage with fellow members. President Kemmere also provided an AAMDC president’s update which included the latest on the Municipal Government Act, Municipal Sustainability Initiative, aggregate and Building Canada Fund. HON. DIANA MCQUEEN, MINISTER OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS BEN BRUNNEN, The Honourable Diana McQueen was the first speaker of CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM the day. She thanked all stakeholders including the AAMDC PRODUCERS (CAPP) for reaching a consensus on several MGA items related Ben Brunnen, Manager of Fiscal and Economic Policy with to provincial-municipal relations, governance, municipal CAPP, spoke about the need for a strong energy sector viability, regional decision-making, and managing growth. in Alberta. Mr. Brunnen highlighted that a strong rural Minister McQueen also announced the release of the Alberta is key for a strong energy sector as most resources Small Communities Fund. She acknowledged that the are located in those areas. He noted that CAPP expects application deadline of April 2 was short on notice, but the recent decline in oil prices to lead to a slowdown in noted the goal was to provide funding as soon as possible. drilling activity in Alberta, which will lead to a rise in Minister McQueen also announced the Alberta Community Alberta’s unemployment rate. This may especially impact Partnership (ACP) has been oversubscribed and said rural municipalities, as they host nearly all drilling projects. Municipal Affairs had some very difficult decisions to make about which projects to provide funding to. Money for the CURTIS BROCHU, ACP will be distributed shortly. ALBERTA FIRST RESPONDER RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (AFRRCS) Curtis Brochu, the director of transformation with AFRRCS, is looking to provide a two-way province-wide radio solution to improve first responder reaction times. Mr. Brochu said all 332 AFRRCS sites will be operational by the end of June 2016. Municipalities interested in using AFRRCS should contact the AFRRCS Project Team at Alberta Justice and Solicitor General. HON. STEPHEN KHAN, MINISTER OF SERVICE ALBERTA Minister Khan spoke on behalf of the Hon. Verlyn Olson, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Minister Khan said agriculture can play a leading role in diversifying Alberta’s economy. The Government of Alberta needs to help generate the right conditions in rural areas for agriculture and other industries to flourish. Minister Khan touched on the newly released rural Economic Development Action Plan (REDAP) which lays out the strategies to develop rural community services such as healthcare and broadband, as well as developing strategies to assist rural businesses in succeeding. 4 AAMDC Spring 2015 Convention March 17 - Convention HON. ROBIN CAMPBELL, MINISTER OF FINANCE + PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD Minister Campbell noted the rapidly changing fiscal difficult to access in the event of an emergency. The situation in Alberta. He suggested part of developing presenters discussed that using unrestricted reserves a more sustainable revenue system includes making may create a misperception of municipal wealth and Alberta’s public sector pension plans more sustainable. encouraged participants to review their practice for He looks to address the risks of the existing plans and financial reserve to optimize investment and accessibility improve their governing structures. Minister Campbell of funds. said the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP) has the most complex structure, and contribution rates are rising. BUILDING COMMUNITIES OF CARE: RURAL He will work together with members and stakeholders to HEALTH CARE IN ALBERTA make LAPP sustainable for future generations. In this workshop, sponsored by Axia, health care challenges in rural and remote communities in Alberta were explored AL KEMMERE, by our panelists. David Kay from the Rural Physician PRESIDENT OF THE AAMDC Action Plan, Len Frank from the Leduc Devon Beaumont AAMDC President Al Kemmere presented the AAMDC Primary Care Network, and Paul Cabaj from the Alberta Strategic Direction. The document takes into consideration Community Co-op Association presented on a range of input provided by AAMDC members at the Fall 2014 topics including the recruitment and retention of health AAMDC convention, as well as that of AAMDC staff and the professionals to rural areas, and the health care co-op board of directors. It is intended to reflect the AAMDC’s model which is popular in the United States and Quebec diverse member offerings and its role as a provider of as a way to provide health care to local communities. advocacy and aggregated business services. Members were invited to vote on the Strategic Direction during the EXAMINING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT resolutions session later in the morning. MODELS FROM THE ALBERTA PERSPECTIVE Municipal structures have been a hot topic in Alberta BREAKOUT SESSIONS and other provinces in recent months. Led by AAMDC UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES: THE BENEFITS Executive Director Gerald Rhodes, this workshop provided AND PITFALLS OF MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL an overview of the AAMDC’s report examining common governance models used across North America. Mr. RESERVES Rhodes looked at the rural perspective on current and This workshop, sponsored by Enbridge and Northern proposed municipal governance models in Alberta. He Gateway Pipelines and presented by Tracy Noullett from compared Alberta’s municipal system to others in Canada MNP LLP (accountants) and Lorne Randa from Brownlee and showcased the opportunities and challenges that it LLP, looked at the use of restricted and unrestricted presents for Alberta’s rural municipalities. financial reserves in municipalities. Participants were advised that while restricted financial reserves allow for disciplined long-term planning, they may make funds AAMDC Spring 2015 Convention 5 March 17 - Convention KEYNOTE ADDRESS: DREW DUDLEY Drew Dudley brought his mix of storytelling and humour to the AAMDC Spring Convention on March 17th. With a program designed to inspire leaders within his audiences, Dudley was quick to suggest moments of leadership must be recognized and celebrated. “Leadership recognized is leadership is created,” he said. Progression and growth were both focuses of Dudley’s talk, but he also suggested planning was essential to successful leadership skills. Dudley said leaders should take the time to identify the things that they want to define them on a personal level while feeling empowered to help others reach their goals. HON. TIM UPPAL, MINISTER OF STATE (MULTICULTURALISM) Minister Uppal brought greetings from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and noted some funding initiatives from the Government of Canada. He spoke about the government’s $53 billion investment in infrastructure through the New Building Canada Plan, much of which will be used in Alberta. He also highlighted the Small Communities Fund, which will provide $94 million to Alberta municipalities with a population below 100,000. This fund is intended to assist small communities in meeting their unique needs. Minister Uppal also mentioned the Government of Canada’s major invest- ments in our digital economy, including the $305 million Connecting Canadians program that will strive to make a 5mb/s broadband connection available to all Canadian households. BRAD