Questions have come up over suggested appointments to the new PREDA, which was announced last month. (Charlene Tebbutt/paNOW Staff)

By Charlene Tebbutt

economic development

Questions over suggested names to new regional economic development alliance

Apr 30, 2019 | 8:11 AM

Local councillors have sent back a list of suggested names for a new regional economic development group because not all the potential appointees live in Prince Albert.

The report to city council Monday night didn’t sit well with some councillors who said the city is putting the most money toward the new Prince Albert Regional Economic Development Alliance (PREDA) and should have local representatives on the board. The city is looking to fill five director-at-large positions on the new board.

Seven names had been suggested to city council, including Gordie Broda, Yvonne Groenen, Sharon Hopkins, Lynn Jansen, April Roberts-Poitras, Allan Webb, and Matthew Vermette. Ward 6 Coun. Blake Edwards said he couldn’t support the appointments given that some of those on the list don’t live in the city or have business dealings here.

“The region has other voices and I think Prince Albert, due to the fact we’re the main funders, we should have that extra voice,” Edwards said. “It’s nothing personal, but all along, the whole discussion with PREDA, I felt we should have a voice locally.”

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The city is putting $100,000 toward the new PREDA initiative. The communities of Shellbrook, Muskoday First Nation, Peter Ballantyne Developments and the rural municipalities of Buckland and Prince Albert have also signed on to the agreement, at a lesser cost based on population. Each community will also be able to appoint a director to the board.

Craig Guidinger, director of planning and development with the city said the seven names suggested would ensure a fair balance on the board. While not each person listed lives or has a business here, they all have “specific and pointed” interests in Prince Albert and a range of skills and expertise, he said.

The list of seven was pared down from 18 applicants who applied for the five open positions, a report to council said.

Ward 5 Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick urged city council to move forward on the project.

“I thought we were all clear,” he said. “Our five directors are going to be looking out for the interests of the region, but also Prince Albert.”

Mayor Greg Dionne said he is more interested in the qualifications and the skills of those suggested, rather than their addresses. Some of those on the suggested list have large businesses in the city and contribute through taxation and economic growth, he said.

The delay is disappointing, Dionne added.

“We asked our staff to do the work, they did the work, and we have one or two that don’t agree with it and wanted a different opinion and so we’ve just delayed another project,” he said. “It’s just another delay for no reason.”

The issue will come back to council in May, following another review by city administration.

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charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt