Grande Prairie Minute: Tax Increase, Seniors Outreach, and an Addictions Awareness Proclamation

Grande Prairie Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Grande Prairie politics

This Week In Grande Prairie:

• Today, at 2:30 pm, there will be a City Council In Camera Meeting (closed to the public). Council will discuss “confidential evaluations”. At 3:00 pm, there will be a public meeting of City Council. Mayor Jackie Clayton will proclaim November 24th to 30th as National Addictions Awareness Week. Council will look to approve the Fibre Optics Fee Rebate Program, which allows for up to a 100% rebate on municipal fees, for fibre alignment projects initiated between July 1st, 2024, and December 31st, 2025.
  
  
• The Festival of Trees is back again this year. There are activities for the whole family during this fundraiser for the GP Regional Hospital Foundation. The festival takes place November 21st to 24th, and the full schedule and tickets are available online.
  
  
• Seniors Outreach is seeking volunteers for its annual Adopt-A-Driveway program, which helps low-income seniors who are unable to shovel snow themselves. The program encourages residents, including youth groups and sports teams, to adopt a driveway near their home as a volunteer opportunity. Currently, 42 homes have signed up, and volunteers can find available driveways on the Adopt-A-Driveway map. Seniors who need assistance can apply to have their driveway adopted by contacting Seniors Outreach. Volunteers can sign up by calling the organization at 780-539-6255.

Last Week In Grande Prairie:

• Council approved the 2025 Budget with a 2.26% tax increase. The budget includes investments in projects such as road improvements ($18.8 million), a new Integrated Emergency Coordination Centre ($3.75 million), and broadband expansion ($50,000). Additionally, funds are allocated for workforce development, healthcare retention, and playground upgrades. The budget will be ratified at the December 2nd Council meeting. We think the tax increase is unacceptable. While the small tax increase this year is better than many other municipalities around Alberta have achieved, we'd prefer to see the City cutting taxes, not raising them, and they could absolutely afford to do so if they got wasteful spending under control. If you agree, please sign our petition calling on Council to get “Back To Basics”.
  
  
• The Salvation Army launched its Christmas Kettle Campaign, with MLA Nolan Dyck as the first donor. The campaign aims to raise $650,000 to support the Salvation Army’s year-round programs. The Salvation Army noted that in recent years, the number of families accessing food bank services has increased by 2,000 to 3,000 households. Christmas Kettles are set up at various locations, including the Prairie Mall Shopping Centre.
  
  
• The City reminded residents that the Eastlink Centre is offering special holiday deals for residents, available until December 24th. The promotions include a 20% discount on the Holly-Day 10 punch pass, Eastlink Centre gift cards, and corporate bulk buy drop-in passes. The Centre will hold its annual Membership Sale Day on December 7th, offering a 10% discount on prepaid memberships.