February Already! I feel like time is flying by as your MLA. In January, I took some much needed strategy time to think about the year ahead. As always, meeting with you through MLA on Tour or event has been an important of that. Understanding your concerns guides my focus and ensures I’m addressing the issues that matter to you most as we prepare for the spring legislative session later this month.
What are my priorities for 2025?
While I’m still refining the details, there are a few things that you’ve told me are important to you.
Protecting Our Natural Landscape
Conversations with residents have highlighted deep concerns about protecting our shared environment, especially regarding coal mining. Despite overwhelming opposition to new coal mines along the Eastern Slopes, the UCP continues to push projects like the Grassy Mountain coal mine forward. The new coal policy and regulatory changes they announced right before Christmas holidays don’t offer any real protections for our Eastern Slopes and headwaters, and they don’t apply to “advanced” projects. The Grassy Mountain mine has already been rejected by a provincial/federal joint review panel. To many Albertans that means it’s not an advanced project, but the UCP and Northback disagree. I was one of the many Albertans who attended a protest in Calgary to oppose this mine. The mine will impact water quality and quantity in Southern Alberta and impact habitat for people and animals alike. I’m also struggling with the way the decision has been made. The Government’s handling of the Grassy Mountain mine proposal demonstrates the lack of independent decision making in the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). This is on top of various other issues that have arisen with the AER’s effectiveness in monitoring, reporting, and enforcing existing regulations. All this brings to question the effectiveness of our energy regulator. There are many aspects of this project and the AER that I can’t wait to discuss in the legislature this spring! Thank you to everyone who has emailed, phoned, met with me, or attended a protest about Grassy Mountain. Your efforts are important. I hear you and I carry voice with me to Edmonton.
To me, whether we’re talking about coal, forestry, or recreation, it’s really about land use planning. What do we want our landscape to be used for? What objectives will that meet? What kind of society do we create when we make these decisions? From the Ghost to Kananaskis and the protected areas on the Eastern Slopes, our land use planning decisions have serious implications for our livelihoods, social connections, ecosystem sustainability, water provision and so much more. I am continually considering the review of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan and the current water allocation consultations in this vein. If you are too, please reach out. I’d love to talk about these issues in more depth and learn what your priorities are.
Addressing Affordability
Rising costs remain a top concern for many residents and businesses in Banff Kananaskis. From housing shortages to inflation, utility bills, auto insurance, and wages, Albertans are asking why we face some of the highest costs and highest unemployment west of the Maritimes— despite having the lowest minimum wage. People need a government that takes meaningful action to address your pocket book, while prioritizing a strong economy and environmental protection. Over the next few months, I want to hear from you. How is affordability hitting you? What are solutions you think your government should be implementing? Where are you feeling inflation the most? What sacrifices or changes have you had to make to accommodate our increased cost of living? Please email me your thoughts.
Get Involved – Volunteer call-out Bragg Creek has an incredible network for trails that many of us enjoy regularly. I know you value these recreational opportunities, and I hear from many of you that you value the need for wildlife to have safe access to these areas too. Bragg Creek Trails has recently received funding from the Calgary Foundation to do some trail monitoring examining how wildlife and people share these spaces. If you’d like to volunteer, email Eric at: elloyd525@gmail.com.
Colouring Contest
Our constituency logo needs your splash of creativity! Let your imagination run wild and bring our logo to life with your unique colouring skills! Participants must be 18 years old or younger, live in the Banff-Kananaskis riding, and submit their finished masterpiece by February 14th via email to:Banff.kananaskis@assembly.ab.ca.
Sarah Elmeligi
