DIDSBURY - Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper was a delegate at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting in Didsbury. Cooper said he tries to visit all the councils in the riding at least once a year to “connect” and talk about mutual interests.
“The times of year we do that is moving into the fall session or moving into the spring session,” said Cooper. “It gives me a good chance to connect with councils and see if there are areas of mutual benefit or concern so that I can do my best in the next legislative session to try and best represent our communities and the people in our communities.”
Cooper said that the next session of the legislature is scheduled to begin on Oct. 31.
“My goal this evening is to give you some feedback or at least give you an avenue to connect with me in the future,” he said to council. “Hopefully prior to the 31st around a couple of pieces of legislation that certainly we are very aware of them coming before the assembly and they have a significant impact on how municipal governments will interact with the provincial government in the form of the Municipal Government Act (MGA) review (Bill 21).”
Cooper told council that they could contact him at any time to discuss the changes to the MGA or any other legislation.
“Certainly I've heard a number of concerns up and down our region around what the collaboration piece is going to look like,” he said. “Particularly when there is the challenge or risk of whatever forced collaboration is going to be. So that's definitely on the radar as one of the concerns and possibly one of the successes as well for the MGA review to work in a regional manner.”
Concerns about traffic on Highway 382
Coun. Joyce McCoy told Cooper about concerns with the increased traffic on Highway 382 and the impact on Schantz Village and the residents when it opens. “Once 800 people are there, some of whom are in wheelchairs and walkers and whatnot, are going to want to come downtown to have coffee,” she said. “How are they going to get across the road without being hit by semis, etc.”
McCoy asked if Cooper could talk on behalf of the town to the Ministry of Transportation about possibly putting a crosswalk at 16 Street and 20 Ave.
“I'd be more than happy to talk to the minister of transportation about developments in the region,” said Cooper. “I wouldn't describe the Department of Transportation as proactive so anything we can do to sort of lay in the foundation on making them aware of these things (would be great).”
"I've heard a number of concerns up and down our region."Nathan CooperMLA
