The City is questioning their participation in maintaining and developing the use of highway 16.
Lloydminster has been a member of the Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway Association (TCYHA) since 1992 and the yearly membership fee of $5,000 is a budgeted expense that has the City rethinking their current membership.
Board Member of TCYHA and City Councillor Aaron Buckingham says that the association represents Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C., but has seen various cities including Saskatoon and Edmonton pull out as of late.
“It’s a good group to be on and of course that highway runs right through our City, but at some point you have to say is this group moving forward, is this group where we need to invest our money.”
The association has been advocating on construction projects from both the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments, including upgrading Yellowhead Trail in Edmonton. Mayor Gerald Aalbers says one of the challenges they have is finding the value in the association.
“They do some advocacy work on behalf of the provincial governments and the federal government, funding is important to maintain our highway structure and to improve it. One of the challenges is how much more can we improve highway 16 here, today.”
Council will keep discussing their membership until the associations Annual General Meeting on April 6.