City moving toward updated economic development plan

By Lethbridge Herald on June 12, 2025.

Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge city council look significant steps toward a new economic development strategy on Tuesday by unanimously approving a pair of motions by councillors Belinda Crowson and Jenn Schmidt Rempel.

The first called on council to direct administration to prepare a presentation for the July 10 meeting of the Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee that includes identification of the need for any temporary resources to complete and implement an updated economic development strategy. The motion also asks council to direct administration to invite the City’s fee-for-service funded partners,  Economic Development Lethbridge and Tourism Lethbridge, to attend that  SPC meeting.

The motion states that an updated strategy “is essential to provide clear direction to administration and our service providers.” It also notes an updated strategy will include considerations that were identified in a closed workshop conducted with Economic and Finance members on June 12.

When asked by councillor John Middleton-Hope if the motion would impede an assessment of fee-for-service groups, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Darrell Mathews responded “in this regard, no,  not at all. This doesn’t impede, in fact, I would suggest this is another piece of the work that will actually help in that overall assessment. . .it’s actually some of the clarity pieces and work that we can work together on, both EDL and ourselves.”

Crowson said the point of having EDL and Tourism Lethbridge attend the July 10 meeting is “when the strategy is done, it will actually develop the relationship between us and EDL and Tourism because we will have this guiding document.” That way, when they come to council with a work plan, council will be able to look at its strategy and determine if it matches what council wants to achieve.

“It puts council back into the role of actually directing and guiding the economic future of this community, said Crowson. “So if we are going to be developing that strategy and developing the resources to create that strategy, they are doing that work on our behalf right now. We need to have them be part of that conversation because they’re the ones that we will be looking to to take the strategy of council and the strategy of the City and implement it.”

Schmidt-Rempel told council that inviting the City’s two key-for-service partners to the July SPC “also emphasizes our desire for collaboration  with them. And we want to ensure the strategy is informed by those who are already doing this work. We don’t want to lose the work they’ve already done.”

Mayor Blaine Hyggen wondered if the next council is being tied to something that is a request of the current council.

City manager Lloyd Brierley replied that “the whole fee-for-service piece will be coming to the next council anyway so I think this will start now and continue on through them.”

Schmidt-Rempel said the motion reaffirms the City’s commitment “to strategic and well supported economic growth. We’ll be building on the expertise within our organization, within our partners and within this  council. We’re asking for clarity on what resources may be needed to get this done and we’re also looking to Economic Development Lethbridge and Tourism Lethbridge for their expertise and participation. Economic development doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it requires alignment, foresight and the kind of collaboration this motion enables. “And it’s an opportunity to give our administration and  our partners the tools they need to move forward.“

In their second motion, Schmidt-Rempel and councillor Belinda Crowson asked council to have administration develop a long-term financial  sustainability framework to “formalize the longstanding financial  principles and practices that guide the organization in making financial decisions that ensure its long-term financial sustainability while allowing for flexibility for future councils to achieve their  strategic vision.”