Civic Engagement – Page 6 – Christopher Northcott

Good Fortune: Having Roots

Christopher Northcott on October 6, 2021

My opponent and I share the good fortune of having deep roots in the success of Vulcan County.

Born in 1881 and arriving in Canada in 1903, my Great Grandfather, Charles James (C. J.) Northcott, homesteaded here in 1906.

He married Clara Fremstad in 1908, celebrating on her family’s homestead east of Carmangay before riding a horse and wagon north, across the Little Bow, and beginning their life together in the MD of Marquis. The construction of an irrigation reservoir was on the horizon, what would prove to be a significant driver of economic development and community growth in Southern Alberta.

The picture below is a map of Alberta from 1930.

C. J. Northcott ran the Lake McGregor Post Office which appears on the map.

Limited Local Government is Worth the Effort

Christopher Northcott on October 6, 2021

In 2003, I was hired by Professor Stan Drabek to work on a report for the Federation of Calgary Communities. We looked at “community councils” in Portland, OR, Aukland, NZ, and Tokyo, JP, explaining how these might work in Calgary, devolving some local matters to community councils that wished to form within a larger municipal entity.

It went nowhere.

The City of Calgary considered it a threat to the centralized authority and control they exercised over what once were flourishing and unique communities.

I remain thankful for the independence of Vulcan County, the Town of Vulcan, and the five villages. Bureaucratic behemoths do not serve the public good. The dollars are much harder to follow and local connection is lost.

One of the great struggles we face is building political consensus that respects:

– the importance of “limited local government,” and

– the collaborative frameworks that make smaller government viable.

Federation of Calgary Communities

The Purposes of a Municipal Corporation in Alberta

Christopher Northcott on October 6, 2021

The Province of Alberta amended the Municipal Government Act to mandate collaboration between neighbouring municipalities.

Used correctly, we can deploy the strategies necessary for:

– growing our taxable assessment,

– minimizing conflict between different land uses through good planning, and

– encourage more people to consider calling our region home.

Consider the following from the Municipal Government Act

Safe and Viable Communities

Christopher Northcott on October 6, 2021

It is the purpose of all municipalities in Alberta to develop and maintain safe and viable communities.

With rural crime in recent years, it is harder for agricultural producers to thrive and other commercial-industrial companies to do business here.

Paying for the RCMP is now a significant line-item in the budget for all seven municipalities in our region.

Joint lobbying for effective policing and crime prevention is necessary in order to see results.

Property taxes have increased because of this cost and ratepayers deserve policing strategies that work for our communities.

Police Costing Model Overview,
Rural Municipalities Alberta

Good Leaders Keep Government Small and Local

Christopher Northcott on October 6, 2021

Municipal Government is a local authority subject to the Emergency Management Act.

When the pandemic began in March of 2020, our regional emergency management partnership began working collectively to streamline our websites and produce regular updates.

Another area where I was able to contribute was in working Gillian Williamson from Studio Lumen to produce short public awareness videos that were deemed necessary.

This video reminds me, every time I watch it, that we have great leaders in Vulcan County who care about the welfare of their communities.

Meaningful collaborative governance strategies are possible! Collaboration keeps municipal government small and local.

All Regional Emergency Management Videos

Endurance and Innovation

Christopher Northcott on October 5, 2021

The production of this video was an enjoyable experience under the circumstances.
It provided an opportunity to talk to business owners from across Vulcan County and hear how the pandemic was impacting their businesses.

Many of them were going to great lengths to better serve their customers, adapting their operations to provide services that they never offered before the pandemic.

We should remember the sacrifices that business owners have made just to keep their livelihoods afloat, to pay the property taxes and service rates that benefit all ratepayers.

The restrictions have been very challenging for some businesses in Vulcan County. Their intelligence, courage and perseverance is commendable.