Sherwood Park Minute: Issue 133

Sherwood Park Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Sherwood Park politics

📅 This Week In Sherwood Park: 📅

• Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Common Sense Sherwood Park. We're grateful to everyone who supports our work, especially our loyal Sherwood Park Minute readers. We hope you're enjoying a lovely long weekend with family and friends.
  
  
• There are no Strathcona County Council or Committee meetings scheduled this week. The next Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20th at 9:00 am.
  
  
• The Government of Alberta is proposing changes to wetland regulations that would let some activities affecting wetlands on agricultural land proceed without the level of assessment currently required. The Province claims the reforms will reduce red tape for farmers while keeping protections for neighbouring landowners, infrastructure, and sensitive species in place, and says it expects little overall change within the Beaver Hills Biosphere, where about 65% of the land is privately owned and used for agriculture. Asked for its evidence, the Ministry said "farmers know best" how to manage wetlands on their property, and pointed to Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where some agricultural drainage can proceed without wetland replacement requirements. Kennedy Halvorson, a conservation specialist with the Alberta Wilderness Association, argued those provinces still use permitting systems and other oversight, and said she has not seen scientific evidence released by the Province supporting the change.
  
  
• Ward 2 Councillor Mike Derbyshire is warning that the cost of this summer's flooding is falling on Strathcona County while it waits for provincial help. Derbyshire said prolonged rain flooded properties and stormwater ponds in urban areas and caused significant overland flooding in rural communities, damaging roads, culverts, and other public infrastructure. Council declared a State of Agricultural Disaster as crops and fields across the region were threatened or left inaccessible. The County made quick repairs without waiting for funding and has applied to Alberta's Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program for an estimated $20 million, a figure that does not include damage to private homes and small businesses. Even if the application is approved, the Province will cover only a portion of the damages, and until reimbursement arrives the County carries the cost, drawing on reserves it also relies on to maintain and renew infrastructure. Derbyshire said he raised the delay with provincial ministers at the ABmunis 2026 Convention, who told him applications have been received and must go through the program's required review process.
  
  
• Strathcona County RCMP and Strathcona County Victim Services are now offering "Hug Kits" to people affected by romance scams, as part of the launch of the Unbreaking Project Canada. When a romance scam or another fraud involving a personal or romantic relationship is reported to the detachment, the investigating officer or Victim Services will offer the person a kit containing a handmade blanket, fraud recovery information, resources, and messages of support. As of September 23rd, Strathcona County residents had reported losing $265,000 to romance scams, and the County notes these scams are often underreported because victims may feel embarrassed or may not realize they have been scammed. Tom Sutton, director of Strathcona County RCMP and Enforcement Services, who oversees Victim Services, says a comfort item like a blanket can help victims who feel isolated, vulnerable, and ashamed. The Unbreaking Project Canada, coordinated by local fraud prevention educator Julie Matthews, provides the kits free of charge and also aims to reduce the stigma around romance scams and encourage victims to come forward. Residents can report a romance scam through the RCMP non-emergency line at 780-467-7741 or in person at the detachment on Bison Way.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

What do you think about how Alberta handles disaster recovery funding for municipalities? Should the Province do more to help municipalities recover from major weather events, and how should these costs be shared between provincial and local governments?

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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