News, Press Releases & Archives Council Supports Financial Contribution to Calgary Regional Partnership By Cindy Ballance, Okotoks Western Wheel, November 20, 2002 Okotoks town council gave its support to the Calgary Regional Partnership through a financial commitment as well as support of the partnership’s vision and mission statement. Mayor Bill McAlpine, chair of the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) steering committee, presented the partnership’s newly developed 2003 business plan with funding contributions from each of the 13 communities involved. Communities such as Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner alley, High River and the MD of Foothills contribute 40 cents per capita to the partnership. In Okotoks that equates to about $4,554; $746 in Black Diamond; $6,705 in the MD and $643 in Turner Valley. The financial contribution to the partnership will allow the committee to move ahead on vital projects. Previously the majority of funding assistance was provided by Alberta Municipal Affairs, Alberta Environment, Alberta Economic Development and Western Economic Diversification. The premise behind the regional partnership is to establish cooperative partnership is to establish cooperative partnerships on common issues to improve the delivery of municipal services and enhance regional prosperity. Such services or initiatives undertaken by the CRP include watershed management, regional transportation, emergency response, regional waste management and many more. McAlpine explained that the partnership is important that the partnership is important to ensure the viability of each community in years to come. “We can no longer be viable on our own,” he said. “We need to work together to compete in the global economy.” The business plan is a starting point to that camaraderie. “When it is good for the whole region, that is when we begin to play the game,” said McAlpine.