Red Deer Minute: Building Demolition, Homelessness Funding, and an OPS Closure Injunction

Red Deer Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Red Deer politics

This Week In Red Deer:

• This morning, at 10:00 am, there will be a meeting of the City Council Agenda Review Committee. The Committee will draft the agendas for the March 24th Regular Council meeting, the March 24th Special Committee of the Whole meeting, and the April 3rd Committee of the Whole meeting.
  
  
• There will be a meeting of the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday at 12:30 pm. There are two items on the agenda - a Financial Roadmap report and an Ad Hoc Economic Development report. The Audit Committee will meet on Wednesday at 1:00 pm. The Committee will discuss the December 31st, 2024 Accounts Receivable Report, the December 2024 Investment Report, and a report entitled Investment Portfolio Transfer.
  
  
• A Red Deer court is considering an injunction to prevent the closure of the local overdose prevention site (OPS), which is set to shut down on March 31st. A local resident and OPS user argues that the closure violates his Constitutional rights, citing sections of the Charter related to life, security, and equality. His lawyer contends that since the government previously provided the service, it cannot be withdrawn without infringing on those rights. The government’s lawyer countered that the Province is not obligated to fund healthcare services and that the client’s recent limited use of the OPS weakens the case. A ruling on the injunction is expected next week, with a full hearing on the matter set for June.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• It was announced that the downtown building sitting in disrepair since an October 2021 fire will be demolished by the end of June. The City obtained a court order in November 2024 to proceed with demolition and site grading after enforcement actions failed to resolve the issue. The adjacent building was torn down in May 2024, and the City has noted that the demolition creates opportunities for future development.
  
  
• Red Deer has been awarded $3.4 million as part of a new provincial and federal agreement aimed at addressing homelessness. The funding is part of the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative, which will support local response plans and provide immediate aid to those living in encampments. Over two years, $35 million in federal funding will be distributed across Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Red Deer, complementing the province’s $430 million commitment to homelessness initiatives. While specific projects in Red Deer have not been announced, officials say the allocation reflects community needs.
  
  
• Red Deer Public Schools has approved its 2026-2028 Capital Plan, prioritizing school modernizations and new construction projects. Key initiatives include upgrades to Oriole Park Elementary, Gateway Christian School, Eastview Middle School, and Glendale School, along with plans for a new Grade 6-8 school and a high school in northeast Red Deer. The plan will be submitted to Alberta Education by March 31st. Additionally, trustees approved the creation of a Board Evaluation Framework to assess governance effectiveness and improve accountability.

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