Cypress County councillor to attend FCM meeting Medicine Hat is boycotting

By Collin Gallant on May 9, 2019.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com
@CollinGallant

While Medicine Hat city councillors will boycott a cities conference in Quebec this month, a Cypress County councillor is seeking to a represent Alberta on the group’s national board.

Robin Kurpjuwiet represents Ward 4 (Longfellow) in the district around Medicine Hat and will go to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference as a candidate for a vice-presidency with the nationwide lobby group.

“It’s a way of getting more of a rural and small voice at the table,” Kurpjuweit told the News this week. “FCM does a pile of good work and advocacy, and we want equal airtime.”

The possibility of a boycott of the location of the conference in the Quebec capital arose in recent months. Medicine Hat’s decision not to send delegates was described as a way to show support for energy sector in Western Canada. 

That comes after new Alberta Premier Jason Kenney promised a more aggressive stance during the recent provincial election. 

Medicine Hat appears to be the only location cancelling attendance, and the provincial cities’ group is encouraging local government leaders to attend and make the case for responsible energy development. 

Kurpjuweit says many Albertans likely support the Medicine Hat council’s stance of staying home, but also wants the west’s issues front and centre at the conference — making it difficult to do both.

“The message they’ve delivered is to their own ratepayers,” said Kurpjuweit, who called the decision “not productive, especially when you’re advocating to have a voice.”

“To have your voice heard, it’s extremely important to have someone at the table,” he said.

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