Mayor looking forward to see if election promises are kept
By Lethbridge Herald on May 31, 2023.
Mayor Blaine Hyggen says the City will be following up on promises made during the election campaign.
Herald file photoAl Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
Promises have been made and now it’s time to see if the province will cash the cheque.
Mayor Blaine Hyggen on Tuesday said during a break at city council that the City will be following up on promises made during the election campaign by both the UCP and Opposition party members.
The mayor also gave a huge shout-out to all candidates who ran in the provincial election Monday across the province.
“These campaigns aren’t always easy and to be able to see as many people that put their names forward, and obviously not everyone can be successful, so to be able to see that and put their names forward and go through this process is admirable,” said the mayor.
He congratulated those who “are going to be supporting our community. It seems like I woke up it’s groundhog day today. We do have a similar government that we’ve had in the past few years as well as our local representation,” said Hyggen.
“I’m looking forward to working with them. The Number One thing I want to make sure we do is we got a lot of promises before the writ was dropped and I want to make sure that we follow up on this and we make sure that these campaign promises are realized.
“We’ll be working with the different ministries” once they are set up to make sure the campaign promises are realized, the mayor said.
The mayor said homelessness and addictions as well as additional police within the community are priorities to be addressed.
Another priority is funding that has been asked for a study on a third bridge for the city.
“I’m looking forward to making sure we get the answers to those in a timely manner,” he said.
The election result gives the mayor optimism the city will get the SCAN unit that was promised here by the UCP before the election.
“The SCAN unit was promised and that’s something that will definitely create safer neighbourhoods so I’m looking forward to that. That is a part that will definitely help with the resources that are required in our community to catch those individuals that are preying off those most vulnerable within our community,” said Hyggen.
He said promises made by all parties for the city are matters that he wants to see addressed.
Those include the shortage of doctors and specialists as well as the Catheterization lab that was promised for Chinook Regional Hospital, the mayor said.
In a written statement, the mayor said “as always, Lethbridge city council and I will continue to advocate for the supports we need in our city to best serve our residents. We are excited to begin working with our local MLAs and with the new provincial government. We will aim to schedule meetings promptly after the next cabinet is formed to ensure election promises to advance Lethbridge’s priorities are followed up on.”
In that statement, the mayor congratulated Premier Danielle Smith and Opposition leader Rachel Notley of the NDP “for their contributions to this great province of ours. It was a hard-fought election as both main party leaders shared their visions for Alberta.
“Congratulations to Lethbridge East MLA Nathan Neudorf and to Lethbridge West MLA Shannon Phillips for their victories locally.
“It takes a great amount of courage and passion to put your name forth for public office. Thank you, candidates, for your determination and commitment to Alberta.”
20-19
I agree . . . I know people who voted for the UCP because of the new 700 increase in treatment beds, the Compassinate Intervention Act and increased policing and no new SCS’s in Lethbridge!