Your Voice, Your City, Our Future

Many residents and their families struggle with the cost of living in Grande Prairie.  Housing shortages driving up pricing, high transmission and distribution prices on utilities.  As such working on development of low-income and entry level housing with quick turnaround time from planning to move in ready is needed.  To accomplish this, attraction of developers and builders to increase these starts and increase available inventory in the affordable brackets that are needed within our community.  

Strong advocates from our city to the provincial government in support of re-evaluation of utility charges, specifically on the transmission and distribution costs is needed.  As Grande Prairie is the center of the northern gateway, we should not be considered a remote location and receive the increased costs of utility services. 

It is unfortunate that the level of homelessness is where it is today.  To understand solutions we must understand the problem.  There are multiple root causes of homelessness,

1. Mental health- Ensuring that resources are available to provide mental health services for our venerable.  Making sure our service providers are trained in complex situations with individuals suffering from mental health disorders, depression, addiction, and trauma to better serve those in need.

2. Housing availability.  Low inventory, especially in low- income units.  Fast track development and completion of safe, efficient homes with providing incentives to builders.  This could be a graduated taxation model, or joint development opportunities.    

Keeping our community safe is paramount as a municipality.  Staffing our police service with highly trained and dedicated members of our community to best serve our community.  Increased presence in areas of identified higher frequency incidents will aid in the deterrence of repeat offences.  Collaboration with the GPPS, RCMP, Provincial Sheriffs will aid in the identification and apprehension of criminals that offend in the city and outside of the city.  Crimes are not left within one boarder, therefore effective cross jurisdictional coordination of services is required.  

As the city grows, so does the need of services and facilities.  This growth is expensive and necessary.  Through community consultation, associations, and town hall style meetings, the development needs of the city can be continually evaluated and development plans can be made for now and in  the future.  The community must be involved.  Not every project may get the approval, however every project will be evaluated for viability and sustainability for near term and long term tenures.   

Have questions or comments? I'd love to hear from you! Contact me today and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.