Getting grande prairie working
A strong economy is vital to quality of life in Grande Prairie. Council needs to work with our community to enable business development and ensure that regulations and taxes are reasonable.
If re-elected, I intend to advocate for:
Infrastructure servicing in Hughes Lake to allow for new industrial development within City boundaries.
Establishment of a Clean Energy Improvement Program to allow businesses to access federal financing for energy efficiency and generation. This will help businesses reduce not just their emissions, but also their utility costs.
Continuing to improve licensing, permitting, and other City processes so that the City doesn’t stand in the way of starting or growing business.
Continued targeted grants to help local businesses recover from COVID restrictions.
Council to better partner with and advocate for arts, culture, and sports groups as well as community non-profits. These organizations are a significant part of our economy and need to be recognized as such.
Continued efforts to properly manage City expenses to contain tax increases. Appropriately balancing this with the need to maintain the high quality of services Grande Prairie needs to have in order to attract and retain labour.
Advocacy for the province to access federal funding to create affordable daycare spaces. If the province continues to refuse, advocacy for the federal government to enter into direct funding agreements with municipalities to create affordable daycare. Getting parents to work is vital for our economy, and lack of childcare is a huge challenge in our region’s labour attraction strategies.
During my time on Council, I undertook the following work to promote economic development:
Support of targeted grant opportunities to help businesses better weather provincial COVID restrictions. Support of staff positions within the City being dedicated to answering questions that businesses have about changing provincial rules.
Successfully pushed for Economic Resiliency to be included in Disaster Planning so that economic recovery can be properly supported in the event of a disaster in Grande Prairie.
Advocated for Council to have regular meetings with the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association, and other industry stakeholders.
Supported City Administration’s efforts to streamline permitting and other regulatory processes.
Served on the Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance Board. A healthy and sustainable watershed is vital to our energy, forestry, agricultural, and tourism sectors.
Do you have questions, ideas, or feedback? I’d love to hear from you! Find me on social media (@DylanBresseyGP) or click here to contact me.