Prince Albert city councillors during a meeting on March 22. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Budget ask

Council discusses funding ask from Community Alcohol Strategy Steering Committee

Mar 24, 2021 | 2:19 PM

Prince Albert city council has received a request from a local organization that aims to change unhealthy attitudes about alcohol.

The Community Alcohol Strategy Steering Committee (CASSC) is asking the city for $15,000 annually for the next four years.

On Monday night, Mayor Greg Dionne told council the request will be considered during 2022 budget deliberations, but he wants to see details on what the organization plans to do with the money first.

“There’s no plan,” he said, speaking about the request CASSC submitted to council. “We need to know what you’re going to utilize the money for [and] what your other funding sources are because we don’t want to get involved… if they have funding elsewhere.”

The Community Alcohol Strategy Steering Committee’s primary focuses are encouraging alcohol-free, family friendly events, promoting safe and responsible consumption wherever alcohol is served, and providing support and intervention for those suffering from addictions, according to the organization’s letter to council.

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In the correspondence, they note their work is important as the rate of hospitalization caused entirely by alcohol in Prince Albert is 76 per cent higher than the Canadian average, and 22 per cent higher than the Saskatchewan average, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

“We know alcohol has a huge impact on individuals and families and a detrimental one at that,” Coun. Tony Head told the meeting. “So anything we can do to provide… I hope we can find some funds to assist in this group’s ask.”

Meanwhile Coun. Blake Edwards said he supported the group’s work but was hesitant to provide funding.

“I think they do wonderful work in the community,” Edwards said. “My only concern is there’s a ton of organizations that are doing a lot of work and we’re going to open up a can of worms [because] we simply cannot fund all of the organizations.”

The Police Board of Commissioners also discussed CASSC’s ask at a meeting earlier this month. Several members expressed interest in getting more information on what the money would be used for.

With files from Nigel Maxwell

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom