In addition to his role as Lloydminster’s mayor, Mayor Gerald Aalbers will represent several municipalities’ concerns and ideas to the Saskatchewan Provincial Government.
On November 24th, Aalbers was voted in as the Chair of the Saskatchewan City Mayors’ Caucus for the next two years. He will also represent the sixteen municipalities making up the CMC on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for Municipalities of Saskatchewan.
Aalbers says that it is an honour to be chosen to lead the group, and he hopes to use his experience as Lloydminster’s Mayor to help all municipalities, provide knowledge on projects and offer the unique border city perspective when working on challenges.
“I know they have representatives at the table, but we’ll be able to have a good discussion to cover a broad perspective of things, because what affects our city, as an example the wastewater treatment plant, is similar to other communities, it’s just a smaller dollar rather than a bigger dollar.”
Aalbers also notes that he takes over the role at a crucial time for many municipalities. In addition to ongoing concerns due to COVID-19, Aalbers says some of their focuses will be on the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program, provincial revenue sharing programs for towns, cities and villages and community policing as well.
He explains that by working together, the voices of all sized municipalities across Saskatchewan will be represented.
“It’s a little different for a town versus a city versus a village, so we do take that into consideration in the work that’s being done with the Municipalities of Saskatchewan because it takes a partnership to make the province of Saskatchewan work with the province.”
Aalbers succeeds Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie in the role. Taking over as Vice-Chair is Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig. They had their first meeting with Aalbers at the helm on November 24th as well.