Premier creates board for capital region to play nice

After years of squabbling between Edmonton and the surrounding municipalities, the premier has unveiled a plan for a new board to make decisions on issues that impact the capital region.

Premier Ed Stelmach announced the framework for a regional board Wednesday that will be comprisedof the area's 25 municipalities and counties. The committee will be responsible for making decisions on major long-term items such as roads, public transit and land use.

'I can tell you that a very, very high percentage of citizens living in the whole capital region want the elected leaders to play in the sandbox politely.' Premier Ed Stelmach

Stelmach pointed to construction of the Anthony Henday ring road as a prime example of where cooperation between jurisdictions benefits everyone.

But the premier warned that the province will step in if the parties can't agree on an issue in the future.

"I can tell you that a very, very high percentage of citizens living in the whole capital region want the elected leaders to play in the sandbox politely," Stelmach said Wednesday.

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel said he's elated with the regional plan a major goal he wanted to see met during his tenure and praised Stelmach for pushing the committee forward.

"I think that sends a message to us and we'll find a way to get along. I'm not concerned about that. I think once we get together, we get into a room, we will begin to find the solutions to the region that we want to find," Mandel said.

"Sure there'll be some disagreement and sometimes we'll win, sometimes we'll lose."

The city dropped out of the Alberta Capital Region Alliance lastNovember, frustrated with the unanimous agreement needed from all 23 communities in the group.

'Sure there'll be some disagreement and sometimes we'll win, sometimes we'll lose.' Stephen Mandel, Edmonton mayor

Edmonton will have veto power on the board but the premier said that doesn't mean the capital city will have unlimited power.

"It's like a double-barrelled veto. The best analogy I suppose is like a dog in a manger," he explained.

"You may want to use the veto power, but at the same time, as the City of Edmonton, you have to find 16 friends to support an idea or perhaps some cost allocation in the future that the others say, 'Hm, you know what, this makes a good idea.'"

Stelmach plans to appoint an interim leader to head up the regional board by January.