I’m not sure how it’s spring already, but I’m ready to welcome it with open arms! With warmer weather and the promise of summer on the horizon, it’s a time for switching gears to the coming season and, of course, enjoying all that our beautiful communities have to offer!
It’s been a busy time in the legislature since we resumed at the end of February, and I’ve been working hard to hold the government to account on several important issues.
As a riding filled with communities that have a close relationship to the land and the nature that surrounds us, I find the UCPs management of hunting quotas and human-wildlife coexistence hits particularly close to home. I appreciate the time so many of you have taken to reach out to my office to express your concerns, particularly in the wake of the illegal killing of a mother cougar that left two orphaned kittens.
I’ve brought these concerns into legislature and pressed for accountability regarding potential corruption and conflicts of interest due to Minister Loewen’s close ties with hunter guiding outfits. It’s absolutely crucial that our province takes sensible, evidence-based approaches to wildlife management and that we don’t take direction from any one particular stakeholder group. It underscores why consultation with experts and a broad range of stakeholders is so crucial, as well as using data to inform management.
Additionally, I’ve been pushing back against the expansion of coal mining in our province, which puts our communities, environment, and wildlife at risk. The UCP’s decision to end the moratorium on coal mining is completely unacceptable and will remain a key agenda item for me as this legislative session continues.
The 2025 budget creates a massive deficit and introduces broad cuts to many public and social services. I am concerned about its impacts to the people of Banff- Kananaskis as well as communities across the province. The province’s frustrating decision to increase education tax requisitions from municipalities means many homeowners will see double digit increases in their education property taxes, while our students continue to receive the lowest funding per capita in the country. On top of this, the budget effectively cuts healthcare spending by 3 percent and does nothing to address tariffs coming from the United States, which is putting our important beef industry at risk. I pushed hard for action on these issues during budget debates and will continue to do so in legislature.
In lighter news, MLA on Tour resumed in March, and it was wonderful to get out and meet so many of you in Beaupre and Bragg Creek. It’s always a highlight to hear directly from community members about the issues that matter most to you. I look forward to connecting with more of you at upcoming tour stops and hope you can join me for a hike in Kananaskis on April 5th—mark your calendars! We’ll hike the Prairie View trail overlooking Barrier Lake. It’s a bit of a climb, but worth it for the great view!
The beginning of spring also meant it was time for my annual Spring Fling – it was such a treat to see so many of you there! We had a fantastic time chatting, laughing, and raising money for a great cause. It’s events like these that remind me just how special our communities are.
Nowadays, preparing for summer, means being ready for wildfire season, particularly after such a dry winter. To connect our communities with local wildfire experts, I hosted a Wildfire Preparedness Workshop in Bragg Creek. It was so valuable to see such strong engagement between local residents and those working to keep our communities safe and prepared. A big thank you to the Red Meadows Fire Chief, the Town of Canmore Emergency Management team, our Parks Canada Fire & Vegetation Specialist, and the Municipality of Jasper’s FireSmart Coordinator for taking the time to share their expertise with us!
As always, I want to hear from you. Whether it’s through MLA on Tour, emails, visiting the constituency office, or community events, your input is crucial to me representing you in the legislature. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and share your thoughts.
Keep an eye out for future tour dates and events on my social media channels, or email my office for updates.
Wishing you all a fantastic start to spring and looking forward to all the exciting things ahead in our communities.
Sarah Elmeligi
