Red Deer Minute: Doctor Shortage, Leadership Results, and the Battle Of Alberta

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

This Week In Red Deer:

• Only one meeting is scheduled at City Hall this week. A City Council Regular Meeting will take place on Tuesday at 12:30 pm. Council will begin this meeting in-camera discussing the recruitment of a City Manager and a bargaining update. Council will then make a motion to revert back to an open meeting and hear a report on Council parking privileges and a report on a potential change in start time for City Council meetings. After a public hearing, second and third reading will be given to Land Use Bylaw Amendment 3357/L-2022, which will see the rezoning of 7150 50 Ave from C4 Commercial (Major Arterial) District to C5 Commercial (Mixed Use) District.
  
  
• The Battle of Alberta is giving a boost to Red Deer’s local economy. With Red Deer located in between Calgary and Edmonton, businesses in Central Alberta are anticipating a busy playoff season. Red Deerians are split down the middle about who to cheer for. Technically Red Deer is closer to Calgary by 10 kilometres, so...? It’s a contentious issue we know, so let us know who you are rooting for in the series!
  
  
• Bursaries are now available for young volunteers thanks to the Piper Creek Optimist Club of Red Deer. The 2022 Young Leaders Award scholarship has $3,000 available for graduating high school students who regularly contribute to their community. This year marks the second year of the award

Last Week In Red Deer:

• The ongoing controversy regarding the doctor shortage at Red Deer Hospital has drawn a reply from the Mayor's office as Ken Johnston expressed his concerns. He cited deeper issues than a simple cash incentive to move to the area could solve. Johnston says issues like a known shortage of hospital beds and surgical suites are part of the reason doctors and surgeons are not choosing to call Red Deer home.
  
  
• Red Deerians might be split down the middle about who to cheer for in the Battle of Alberta, but it appears there was another split down the middle too, this time a political one. Jason Kenney won his long-awaited leadership review with a narrow 51.4% of the vote, only to announce his intention to step down, but will remain Premier during the leadership race to replace him.
  
  
• Tourism Red Deer launched its new 2022 Visitor Guide just in time to mark the May long weekend, the unofficial kickoff to summer. The decision follows years of feedback from visitors who have expressed interest in a tangible visitors guide to take with them when touring in and around Central Alberta. In addition to a physical guide, Tourism Red Deer has also added an interactive guide on its website, which they hope will inform visitors for years to come.

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