Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams will travel to the United Kingdom and France from November 6 to 15 to examine approaches to urban planning and municipal infrastructure financing, while also representing the provincial government at Remembrance Day commemorations at Vimy Ridge.
During the overseas mission, Williams is scheduled to meet urban development specialists, government representatives, infrastructure finance experts and parliamentarians in London and Paris. The discussions will focus on how other jurisdictions fund municipal infrastructure and manage the expansion of growing communities.
The visit comes as Alberta continues to face increasing demands for roads, public facilities and other municipal infrastructure. The province is looking at alternative financing models that could help communities meet these requirements without placing additional tax burdens on Albertans.
European planning models under review
As part of the programme, Williams will visit several communities, including Poundbury and Battersea in the UK, along with Le Plessis-Robinson and Clamart in France.
Meetings with urban planning professionals will provide an opportunity to examine neighbourhood design, development patterns and approaches to creating communities that remain liveable as population density increases.
The minister’s discussions will also build on the work of the Minister’s Council for Municipal Financing. Scheduled engagements include meetings with the Create Streets Foundation, PwC representatives, infrastructure specialists and serving and former parliamentarians.
In Paris, the delegation will meet French agencies and officials to discuss alternative approaches to financing infrastructure and real estate development.
Williams to represent Alberta at remembrance ceremonies
Alongside the policy-focused engagements, the minister will participate in two remembrance events honouring those who served and sacrificed during wartime.
On November 8, he will attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. Three days later, he will deliver remarks on behalf of the Government of Alberta at the Remembrance Day ceremony at Vimy Ridge in France.
Williams said the European visit would allow Alberta to learn from international experience while paying tribute to those who served Canada.
“As Alberta grows, we’re looking for practical ideas in urban planning and municipal financing that can meet our province’s needs,” he said, adding that the Vimy Ridge ceremony would provide an opportunity to honour the sacrifices made by Canadians.
Detailed itinerary of the European mission
The minister’s programme begins in London on November 6, followed by a visit to Poundbury and meetings with officials associated with the Duchy of Cornwall on November 7.
On November 8, Williams will attend the Whitehall remembrance ceremony before visiting the Belgravia and Knightsbridge neighbourhoods with local planning officials. A visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum is also scheduled.
The following day includes a tour of the Battersea development, a roundtable with PwC partners and meetings with UK parliamentarians. On November 10, the minister will meet representatives of the Create Streets Foundation and other parliamentarians before travelling to Brussels.
On November 11, Williams will visit Vimy Ridge for the Remembrance Day ceremony and a tour of the historic site before continuing to Paris.
His engagements in France on November 12 and 13 will include discussions with PwC Paris officials, French agencies and parliamentarians, as well as meetings with the mayor of Le Plessis-Robinson. Walking tours of Le Plessis-Robinson and Clamart are also planned.
Williams is scheduled to return to Canada on November 15.
The Alberta government has stated that expenses related to the mission will be made public through its official travel and expense disclosure page.
