A Moment with the Mayor: Advocating for the City

Many people ask about city council duties and responsibilities.  The standard answer includes City council responsibilities are often understood to include attending meetings, preparing for agenda items, and voting on matters affecting the municipality. Another key part of the role involves responding to questions and concerns from residents and local businesses.

Less visible, but equally important, is advocacy. Council members regularly promote the city’s needs and priorities to other levels of government, particularly when it comes to securing grant funding or raising awareness of local issues. As provincial and federal funding models continue to evolve, available grants are becoming smaller and are continually under review, requiring increased advocacy efforts to secure even modest funding.

We are very fortunate that our City and Council recognize the importance of sustained advocacy. Council regularly attends provincial conferences, providing opportunities to meet with ministers and present a unified voice on funding requests and policy issues. Council has also engaged directly with decision-makers to discuss specific challenges and priorities facing the community.

Lloydminster’s Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament play an important role in these efforts, representing the city’s interests in their respective legislatures. Council works closely with both MLAs and MPs to keep them informed of emerging issues and funding opportunities, ensuring they have current, first-hand information when advocating on the city’s behalf. Council members also travel to meet directly with ministers in Regina, Edmonton, and other locations as opportunities arise, while MPs advance the city’s priorities at the federal level.

Securing grant funding remains the primary focus of the city’s advocacy efforts, alongside reducing red tape and pursuing policy changes that improve quality of life in the bi-provincial City of Lloydminster. Provincial issues such as health care, social services, mental health, and addictions are regularly raised with ministers and local MLAs when opportunities allow.

Council will continue inviting both provincial premiers, their ministers and caucus members to visit Lloydminster to better understand the community’s unique bi-provincial context. The city also hopes to welcome federal ministers to showcase its oil and gas and agricultural industries, which play a significant role in Canada’s economy. Council remains committed to continuing its advocacy efforts with the governments of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Canada.

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster