MD council tours Horsefly Spillway project

MD of Taber

On March 20, representatives from the Town of Coaldale, the St. Mary River Irrigation District, and the MD of Taber toured the Horsefly Regional Emergency Spillway Project. These groups are key municipal partners of the Southern Regional Stormwater Drainage Committee (SRSDC), working together to manage regional stormwater and protect communities from flooding risks.

During the tour, staff showcased the latest progress on Phase 2 – Contract 1, which continues to advance construction milestones, wetland components, and infrastructure improvements while staying on track for completion in April.

The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing regional collaboration and the importance of municipal, provincial, and federal partnerships in strengthening flood resilience, safeguarding agricultural lands, and supporting local infrastructure.

Including the MD of Taber, SRSDC partners include the Town of Taber, Town of Coaldale, Village of Barnwell, Town of Bow Island, Lethbridge County, County of Forty Mile No. 8, Cypress County, City of Medicine Hat, and the St. Mary River Irrigation District.

MD staff participate in emergency management and response training

MD of Taber staff recently participated in the first of three sessions in a regional Emergency Management and Response Training program, alongside colleagues from the Village of Barnwell and the Town of Vauxhall.

The course, led by a regional emergency management consultant, follows the Incident Command System (ICS) framework, which scales from local incidents to regional multi-agency operations. This ensures clear roles, standardized communication, and effective coordination across municipalities and partnering agencies. The initial session provided an orientation and overview of ICS principles, regional emergency roles, and strategies for managing large-scale incidents.

Over the next few months, staff will participate in two additional sessions, working in groups to tackle mock emergency scenarios. These exercises will provide hands-on experience, strengthen regional collaboration, and enhance inter-agency coordination to ensure a rapid and effective response in the event of a real emergency.

MD council attend RMA conference

MD of Taber Council attended the Rural Municipalities of Alberta Spring Conference last week. 

Council met with Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, to advance discussions on key infrastructure priorities. Council reinforced the need to widen Highway 526 with full shoulders to improve public safety, and received an update on planned work along Highway 877, including asphalt paving, cold in-place recycling, and crack repair scheduled for this construction season. Council also continued advocating for increased funding to support local roads experiencing heavy agricultural and industrial traffic.

During the Ministerial Forum, Reeve Miyanaga raised serious concerns regarding the closure of the Nortera processing facility in Lethbridge. This decision affects approximately 40 million pounds of locally-grown peas and corn across 6,000 acres and is devastating for producers preparing for the growing season. Beyond the immediate economic impact, it raises broader concerns about the future of food production in Alberta.

A key question was posed to ministers: how can all levels of government work together with Alberta vegetable growers and federal partners, including Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to ensure food continues to be grown and processed domestically?

Advocating for communities, supporting local agriculture, and strengthening rural infrastructure remained top priorities. The MD of Taber looks forward to continuing these conversations and advancing meaningful outcomes.