The Town of Blackfalds is continuing its fight for a registries office with an open letter to Premier Jason Kenney.
Blackfalds Mayor Richard Poole wrote a letter which “expresses his strong disdain for the dismissiveness he has experienced in dealing with Service Alberta, specifically the office of Minister Nate Glubish” in the Town’s attempts to bring a registries office to the community.
The Town has been working on this matter for almost a decade.
“We are beyond frustrated that the latest email from Minister Glubish provides further excuses not to move forward in delivering this service,” Poole states in his letter.
“While the province has advocated reducing so-called ‘red tape,’ we, as a municipality, have continually found ourselves up against a ‘red wall.’”
During a meeting in the fall of 2019, Minister Glubish recognized Blackfalds had previously been recognized as a community marked to have the next Registry Service outlet. Blackfalds had been earmarked for this service in 2012.
Three months following the fall 2019 meeting, there was no communication from the Minister’s office, despite numerous attempts by the Town.
“On Nov. 3, 2020, during a follow-up discussion with Minister Glubish, he informed us that the Minister’s position was that Blackfalds would not be considered as a service area for a registries office. Since that time, we are certain that the reasons given for his decision were not factually correct, which we addressed in a response letter to Minister Glubish dated Nov. 18, 2020,” Poole wrote.
Minister Glubish allegedly told the Town the population data did not support the opening of a Registry Service outlet in the community.
“Due to a significant increase in population in the last decade and surpassing the 10K population threshold in 2018, Blackfalds is justified in seeking this service locally. It has been nine years since Service Alberta identified Blackfalds as one of the next communities to be provided this service, yet we still find ourselves lacking this important service,” said Poole.
“As we continue to grow in population, which, according to the province puts us at 11,656, bringing this service to Blackfalds is even more warranted. A registries office provides not only convenience to residents, but, in following current public health measures, can offer the service locally rather than making citizens travel to other communities.”
The Town says the Province has not provided any “tangible reason” for an RFP for an Alberta Registry Service to be issue.
They are requesting Cabinet provide “leadership and understanding by directing Minister Glubish to issue an RFP for a Registry Office within the Town of Blackfalds.”