Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown discussed what was talked about at the mid-sized cities meetings in Cochrane from March 22-24. 

At the meetings, representatives of 24 Alberta municipalities were in Cochrane to talk about common issues that included affordable housing, public safety, homelessness and emergency medical services. 

Brown talked about how he believes the Premier and the Ministers of the province do see the challenges communities like Airdrie face. This includes the possibility of mid-sized cities fund to help address infrastructure deficits.

"The fact that they're looking at a special type of funding is certainly a very positive thing, nothing's been established or articulated as to how much it is or how it would be distributed all those types of questions. We're happy, but realistically as it relates to Airdrie, we didn't see a lot in the budget and we're a little frustrated with the disparity in funding within different municipalities."

According to Brown, working together with mid-sized cities will help benefit all that are a part of the group.

"We represent around 36 constituencies; over a million people in our population together, and we need to be recognized for such. We have the same situation and same challenges as what Edmonton and Calgary face, there needs to be an equitable formula."

Brown went on to say when you go to Red Deer, Grand Prairie, Lethbridge, or Medicine Hat you see the investments that are made by the province they should be equivalent to what the investments are made in Airdrie if it's based on population.

"Right now, we are not seeing any of those types of investments, certainly not on the healthcare front. We certainly haven't seen the same investments as far as infrastructure goes. Some municipalities had overpasses paid for. Airdrie did not, and to this day, no one has been able to explain to me why."

According to the government's 2023-24 budget estimates, capital funding allocations are identical to 2022.

Airdrie, the sixth largest city in Alberta, has a scheduled 2023-24 allotment of $7,490,765, the lowest since 2011. 

"The taxpayers in Leduc get a fully funded overpass with a population that's a heck of a lot less than Airdrie. It makes no sense to me whatsoever. We've got 80,000 taxpayers in this community, plus the businesses that we bring in that support the provincial tax assessment. We don't see the same opportunities as those residents."

Brown hopes to see the mid-sized cities group hopefully change policy, legislation and funding formulas.

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com