The City of Lloydminster has made its advocacy priority list for 2025 public.
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Some of the items listed are not directly under the control of council, they spend time at provincial events and meetings advocating for the betterment of these issues.
The list sets out advocacy focuses for the year including, federal and provincial funding, access to health and social services, mental health and addictions, RCMP recruitment, housing and homelessness, education seamless levy and seamless border issues.
Coun. Justin Vance asked if the list of priorities is something the city shares with user groups and committees.
“By bringing this public, that’s the intention, to show the public what council’s priority areas are to advocate,” said Dion Pollard, city manager. “Some of these are our programs, some of these are provincial programs such as education and health. Their not necessarily directly funded or operated by the city but putting them on this list shows organizations we are advocating on their behalf and hopefully with them is the goal.”
These broader provincial and federal issues are something that often comes to council first.
“We inevitably are that first point of contact for members of our community. That’s come up in health care, that’s come up in a number of areas where because we know our citizens and they know us it’s easier for them to contact us rather than the MLA’s in Regina and Edmonton,” said Coun. Michael Diachuk.
Despite the issues not being something they directly control, Diachuk says it’s important they hear from the community.
“I think it’s important for our community members to know we hear them and acknowledge these are issues they have and we share them as well,” he said.
The presented list only covers some of the items council advocates for.
“There’s other advocacy items constantly brought forward to my desk from various organizations letting us know they’ve applied for a government grant, they may have asked for a letter of support from the city,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers.
Council passed the motion to accept the 2025 priority list as presented.
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