Honourable Devin Dreeshen Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Agriculture and Forestry 229 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 March 24, 2021 RE: AFSC Spirit River On behalf of Birch Hills County Council, I am contacting you about Agriculture Financial Services Corporation's (AFSC) decision to close the Spirit River branch office. Our Council understands the decision was made to ensure fiscal responsibility and best use of taxpayer dollars. Our Council appreciates AFSC's efforts to undertake consultation with existing clients to discuss service needs and preferences. By sharing this letter, we hope to demonstrate the closure of the Spirit River branch office will achieve the opposite of your intended outcome. The Town of Spirit River is uniquely situated as a service hub for AFSC clients who call the Central Peace home. The Municipal District of Spirit River, Saddle Hills County and Birch Hills County are home to large scale agriculture. The Spirit River branch office provides a conveniently located destination to access services without having to travel out of region. Travel, as you are well aware, is both a time consuming and finance consuming endeavour. Having an office in Spirit River provides convenient access to services, tailored supports and fiscally sound service provision. The Spirit River office, despite its small size, directly supports activity worth many millions of dollars. Moving the office location acts as impediment to business and adds additional 'red tape' to the access of services. Our Council recognizes the need to find fiscal efficiencies. We too are experiencing challenges brought on by COVID-19 and the ongoing economic downturn. The Municipal District of Spirit River's offer stands out as a way to preserve the Spirit River branch office while achieving fiscal responsibility. Our Council encourages you to accept their offer of office space. The continued presence of AFSC in the Town of Spirit River would speak to the collaboration between your corporation, municipalities and the agriculture community. We believe the Municipal District of Spirit River’s offer addresses the issue of fiscal responsibility and demonstrates a best practice in the use of taxpayer dollars. Decisions of this scale are difficult. We acknowledge the challenges in determining the best course of action for AFSC operations and AFSC clients. However, the Municipal District of Spirit River has demonstrated that AFSC's goal can be accomplished without closing the Spirit River branch office. We strongly encourage you to revisit your decision. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, …/2 Birch Hills County Box 157, Wanham, Alberta TOH 3PO Telephone: (780) 694-3793 Fax: (780) 694-3788 Page 2 CC: Premier Jason Kenney Minister Travis Toews Minister Doug Schweitzer Minister Prasad Panda MLA Grant Hunter MLA Todd Loewen MLA Tracy Allard Municipal District of Spirit River Council Saddle Hills County Council Town of Spirit River Council Village of Rycroft Council Birch Hills County Council Birch Hills County Box 157, W anham, Alberta TOR 3PO Telephone: (780) 694-3793 Fax: (780) 694-3788 .