Lethbridge Minute: Wind Farms, Care Campus, and Flight Plans Delayed

Lethbridge Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Lethbridge politics

This Week In Lethbridge:

• There are two meetings at City Hall this week, starting with an Economic Standing Policy Committee meeting on Wednesday at 1:30 pm. At this meeting, Council will receive two presentations, a Regional Economic Development and Tourism Vision Update and a Waste and Recycling Collection Relocation Update. Council is also set to receive a number of submissions, including one on the curbside organics program and another recommending a pilot program for toxic or e-waste drop-off. To close out this meeting, the Committee will discuss a 2023-2026 operational budget update. Unfortunately, this budget update will be held in-camera.
  
  
• On Thursday, there will be a Community Safety Standing Policy Committee meeting at 1:30 pm. The Committee will receive submissions by the General Manager of Regulatory Services regarding a Proposed Public Places Bylaw and a Light Nuisance Report. The Emergency Preparedness Manager will also submit a Spring 2022 Hazard Report.
  
  
• The Royal Canadian Legion, General Stewart Branch No. 4 in Lethbridge, will move ahead with installing banners on light standards in several areas across the city this November. A unanimous approval by the City to spend $20,500 from the Council Contingencies fund means Council will support the Legion-led “Salute our Veterans” project for the upcoming Remembrance Day celebrations.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• City Council unanimously voted to explore a solution to homelessness, mental health, and addictions. Council has decided to hire a consultant to provide conceptual designs and create a business case for a new Community Care Campus (CCC). Such a campus would provide multiple core services in one location, offering shelter, food, hygiene, clothing, storage, housing location assistance, family reunification, and more. With a pre-approved budget of $100,000, the City wants to create a one-stop facility for Lethbridge’s homeless and vulnerable people that addresses their immediate needs. If a Community Care Campus were established in the city, where do you think it should be located?
  
  
• Plans for Flair Airlines to operate in the city were put into limbo as the Canadian Transportation Agency decided to investigate whether or not the company is indeed a Canadian entity. Although City officials said they are not concerned with the CTA’s pending review, an aviation analyst out of Calgary said the company has run into a significant issue that could very well put flight plans in jeopardy. For an air carrier to operate with a domestic license in Canada, it must be a Canadian entity - which involves some complex rules around ownership and control. Although Flair Airlines is based in Edmonton, the CTA is investigating the level of involvement in the company of Miami-based 777 Partners.
  
  
• Despite a recent divestiture from wind and solar assets, Calgary-based Suncor Energy said they plan to complete the construction of a $300 million wind farm in southeastern Alberta. Construction initially began in April 2021 and the project is expected to be finished in two phases. Once complete, it is expected to generate approximately 400 megawatts of additional power.

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