Delegation from VERGE, support for CFSEA in Cypress County

By Anna Smith
Commentator/Courier

In the midst of celebrations for the county and its various municipalities, councillors sat down for the July 18 meeting.

Council opened the meeting with a public hearing for Land Use Amendment S.E. 31-11-5-W4, which would have reclassified the parcel from Agricultural District 2 to Local Commercial. 

Ultimately, the bylaw was defeated at second reading later in the day, after the public hearing was closed following comment both for and against the change.

Theresa Hardiker and VERGE Economic Development gave a presentation regarding their goals to build agriculture workforce capacity within the region.

“I have been here prior, discussing our Building Agricultural Workforce Capacity program that we’re doing. We’re now getting ready to launch it due to different things that have been going on,” said Hardiker. “But I just wanted to come and have one final discussion with you all based on why we’re doing it, what our expected opportunities or capacity will be with the data that we’re collecting and how we’re going to measure it, and what will be some of the things that we’ll be able to move forward with it.”

Studies in 2019 showed a shortage of labour in the agriculture sector in southeast Alberta, and VERGE seeks to find out what opportunities are available for workers, as well as what employers need.

Council directed administration to dispose of the Bylaw Unit as a closed tender, as it has reached the end of economic useful life, where policy states that they shall be disposed of in a manner that maximizes the benefit and financial return to the County.

A letter of support was sent for the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta to assist with their application for funding. This application requires no matching donation.

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