Mayor Gerald Aalbers. File Photo
Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers pulled out his crystal ball to forecast what he expects will be a productive new year in the city in a question-and-answer interview.
I’m excited about 2024. There’s so many things that are coming to the city. We’re going to see every hotel room booked for about a month and a half with the Cenovus Upgrader turnaround in April and May.
We’re going to see the Saskatchewan Summer Games here. That’s huge. We’re going to play host to about 1,100 young people who are aspiring athletes.
More than 1,800 athletes, coaches and officials will be in the city for the Games from July 21-27.
We’ve got the oil show coming back in 2024 in September. We can talk about the CPCA finals coming back again, the Lloyd Ex Fair and we host two elections in part of the city. The Lakeland College Rustlers will also play host to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association women’s basketball national finals from March 13-16.
We have a byelection in the city (Feb. 13) followed by a general election for the municipal government for mayor and councillors and public and Catholic school divisions on Nov. 13. City residents in Saskatchewan will also be going to the polls for a provincial election on Oct. 28.
Aalbers says he and his family will hold a news conference on Jan. 18 to announce what his intentions are for the 2024 municipal election. I’ll likely have this conference here at City Hall and invite the media and others in to join and hear our thoughts and aspirations.
Do you expect to have a transportation plan in 2024?
We expect to have a transportation plan come to council with the expectation a future council in November will put a final stamp on it, if not sooner for a plan to be enacted in 2025.
I appreciate people’s patience. We want to do this right. The final report will come back to council in early 2024.
What’s happening with the $900 million renewal diesel plant by Covenant Energy?
The renewable diesel plant is still in the works. They are a few months behind where they wanted to be at this point. We are in regular contact with them. Once they get through a couple more hurdles, it would be great to see ground broken in 2024.
Will Alberta contribute funds to Cenovus Energy Hub in 2024?
That is a major project of mine going into 2024. I’ve spent a fair amount of time with our MLA Garth Rowswell as well as several cabinet ministers and MLAs. They’re aware of the project.
I am very hopeful. That’s part of my job, to be positive and hopeful. It may not be in the (Alberta) budget, but what we’re looking at is that one-time project the premier has discussed after they know where their surplus is at.
The Government of Alberta is facing a hefty debt payment they would like to make.
What needs to be done to get a new Jubilee Home built?
This is a capital project for the Government of Saskatchewan. I don’t know if it will be in the 2024 (Saskatchewan) budget. We will be reaching out to the community to support that initiative and help communicate to the province how important that is.
Stay tuned. I won’t hold my breath for an announcement in the 2024 budget. We’re not the only nursing home I suspect in Saskatchewan that needs to be replaced.
