Sure, Mayor Jeff Genung wants to see more cannabis money from the province, but there's bigger fish to fry, he believes.

Returning from a meeting of the Mid-Sized Cities Mayors Caucus, Oct. 18-19, Genung said the biggest issue for Alberta municipalities is a firm commitment for reliable infrastructure funding.

The province has halved the bucks available from the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) program for Cochrane and other municipalities, said Genung, and that's the number one concern of the mid-sized cities mayors. 

"As a group, we think there are much bigger hills to die on than just cannabis. While we're disappointed with the level of  funding there, we're still looking for long-term, secure, sustainable, legislated funding for MSI or some sort of program like that."

Cochrane's MSI funding will be reduced to about $2.1 million from the $4.2 million it received in 2018 and could potentially stay that way until 2022. 

With an aggressive infrastructure plan to catch up with growth, that puts Cochrane in an onerous situation. MSI funding is heavily relied upon for town infrastructure projects, like essential roads and water/waste projects and wants, like the recent expansion of the SLS Family Sports Centre.

Municipal Affairs minister Shaye Anderson did meet with the caucus, explains Genung, and said the province was looking at the funding,, It's same answer they have received for two years. At the earliest, it will be discussed by the Alberta government caucus this fall and Genung doesn't expect to see a firm commitment until next spring.

That's frustrating for municipalities who are currently preparing mandated three-year budgets, says Genung.

"You've legislated that we must come up with a three-year budget yet you haven't given us any indication of what we're going to be receiving from the province for funding. So, how can we do both?"

Municipalities represented at the caucus will be reaching out to their MLAs, government officials and opposition political parties to pressure the government on the issue. 

"It's a joint effort but on an individual basis, so there are many voices saying the same thing," says Genung.

The caucus has made the same push in the past. In January 2018, they collectively wrote to Alberta Finance minister Joe Ceci asking for the same. 

In the forefront of the lobby are the larger urban and rural municipalities associations.

Cannabis funding

With no further details were available at the meeting. Genung says the town remains uncertain about the amount of funding they will receive through the Municipal Cannabis Transition Program announced last Monday.

The province committed $11.2 million to municipalities to help offset administration and enforcement costs. The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association had sought $30 million plus a profit-sharing formula. No commitment has been made for profit sharing.

Genung believes the province fails to understand the extra financial burden being placed on municipalities by the legalization of recreational cannabis.

Cochrane hosting next caucus meeting

Cochrane will be hosting the next meeting of the caucus at the end of January. It will likely use the same footprint of the joint urban and rural municipal association board meetings held here in August,

"I think it's a good opportunity to showcase our community but also if we're having leaders and parties attend, what better place to come than Cochrane. So maybe that's my opportunity to get the premier to Cochrane."

Twenty-two municipalities and 1.4 million Albertans are represented by the mid-sized cities caucus and have a collective population larger than Calgary or Edmonton.  

"It's an interesting group to work with because they are all experiencing the same type of issues and concerns that we have in Cochrane. It's a good way to network, share opportunities and move things forward way faster than coming up with things on your own."