Strathmore and Wheatland County have been removed from the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB).
Both municipalities were clear that the distance from Calgary, small populations, and costs associated with membership isn’t practical for other members of the board, a government media release said.
“It is clear that the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board’s plans for growth in the region largely did not include Strathmore and Wheatland, which is why we are streamlining the process by removing them from the board. Continuing without them just makes sense,” Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver said.
Going forward, membership on the board will consist of the large metropolitan city, the rural municipalities directly adjacent to them, and the urban municipalities within those rural municipalities that have populations greater than 5,000 residents.
The board’s mandate is to support the long-term sustainability of the Calgary region by ensuring environmentally responsible land-use planning, growth management, and efficient land use, developing polices regarding the coordination of regional infrastructure investment and service delivery, promoting the economic wellbeing and competitiveness of the Calgary region, and developing policies outlining how the board can engage the public with consultation, the boards website said.
The board was established in 2017 to ensure regional collaboration and coordinated decision-making.
Membership was based on location, population size, and the potential of significant growth.
Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, Okotoks, High River, Cochrane, Foothills County, and Rocky View County remain board members.
