Boards & Committees

Council Boards and Committees, and Organizational Committee Structure

The Municipal Government Act gives Council the authority to establish committees and determine functions of Council Committees, as well as regulates the procedure and conduct of those Committees.

REEVE shall be “ex-officio” a Council member of all committees.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER shall be “ex-officio staff member on all committees”.

ADMINISTRATION appointed as Resource staff to prepare Agendas and record Minutes.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE appointed to committees by Council through Motion

Emergency Management Committee – Consists only of MD Staff
This committee is established as per MD bylaw. This committee assists, provides advice and recommendations to Council to carry out their mandate and service to the communities of the municipality with respect to disaster services. This includes training and table top exercises that may be required from time to time; regular review and update of the Emergency Management Plan.

Appointees:
Director of Emergency Management
Manager of Safety and Fire Services
Deputy Director of Emergency Management
Director of Corporate and Regulatory Services
Communications Officer
Alternate Deputy Director
Chief Administrative Officer

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) – All Council (On an “as needed” basis)
This board looks after various community programs and may work jointly with other agencies in the community. They have their own budget funded by the Province and the MD. FCSS business is conducted during regular council meetings.

Resource Staff:
Chief Administrative Officer
Director of Recreation and Culture
Chief Financial Officer

Policy Committee – All Council (On an “as needed” basis)
This committee was established to review existing policies for amendments, and to establish new policies as required from time to time. Committee meetings are scheduled every month to review policies.

Resource Staff:
Chief Administrative Officer
Applicable Department Directors

Northern Transportation Advocacy Bureau (Term – 1 Year: October 2022 – October 2023)
The Northern Transportation Advocacy Bureau (NTAB or the “Alliance”) pursues transportation initiatives that support the movement of northern goods, commodities, and services – including but not limited to: intellectual property, broadband, people, commodities, and natural resources to markets to the benefit of the northern region (defined as north of the 55th parallel in North America). Additionally, the Alliance supports the development of transportation corridors that link to other markets that would benefit the northern region.

Appointees:
Brendan Powell

Alternates:
Louis A. Cardinal
Darlene Jackson

Resource Staff:
Chief Administrative Officer
Director of Public Works

Assessment Review Board (Term – 1 Year: October 2023 – October 2024)
The Assessment Review Board hears complaints from an assessed person or a taxpayer relating to any assessed property or business. A complaint may be about any of the following matters, as shown on an assessment or tax notice as outlined in MGA Sections 454(1), 454.1(1) and 460(1):

The description of a property or business
The name and mailing address of an assessed person or taxpayer
An assessment
An assessment class
An assessment sub-class
The type of property
The type of improvement
School support
Whether the property is assessable
Whether the property or business is exempt from taxation under Part 10

There is no right to make a complaint about any tax rate.

This Board meets on an “as needed” basis and requires three appointments. Change to legislation requires that the appointees are licensed and trained (Administrative Law II and Principles of Assessment) and must obtain a certificate in order to become a member of the Board.

Appointees:
Robin Guild
Brendan Powell
Tahirih Wiebe

Resource Staff:
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Administrative Officer

Legislated Board – Section 454

Municipal Planning Commission (Term – 1 Year: October 2023 – October 2024)
The Municipal Planning Commission is responsible for decisions regarding development according to the Land Use Bylaw. They meet regularly every month to deal with development permit applications and must be familiar with the Land Use Bylaw, Area Structure Plan and Municipal Development Plan.

Appointees – Larry Cardinal, Darlene Jackson, Gerald Johnson, Brendan Powell and Tahirih Wiebe

Resource Staff: Manager of Lands and Planning, Chief Administrative Officer

Legislated- Section 626 (1) MGA

Wabasca/Desmarais Housing Authority Board – “Members at Large”
The Wabasca/Desmarais Housing Authority is the “management body” with membership consisting of the MD of Opportunity and the Métis Nation of Alberta Local #90. As per the Ministerial Order, the municipality may appoint five (5) members to the W/D Housing Authority, including two (2) from the Métis Nation, and two (2) from the Bigstone Cree Nation Council.

The term for each member of the Board shall be for a maximum two (2) year term. Members of the Board may hold a maximum of five (5) consecutive years of office, except where it is determined to all that the member of the Board be appointed for one more term.

MD Council Appointees:
Cheri Courtorielle
Robin Guild
Darlene Jackson
Gerald Johnson
Brendan Powell

Métis Appointees:
Regan Auger
Nancy Cardinal

BCN Council Appointees:
Freda Gambler-Alook
Loretta Gladue

Resource Staff:
WOHA Chief Administrative Officer

Subdivision Authority – Consists of Contractor and MD Staff
MD contracted services with Municipal Planning Services to review, recommend approvals, and provide professional services with respect to subdivision applications. No councillor appointments are required for this authority.

Appointee:
Jane Dauphnee

Resource Staff:
Manager of Lands and Planning
Clerk
Chief Administrative Officer

Land and Development Authority – Consists only of MD Staff
Municipal Planning Commission appointees are designated as the Development Authority of the MD of Opportunity.

Current Appointees:
Katelyn Alook
Lisa Belanger

Water North Coalition (Term – 1 Year: October, 2023 – October 2024)
The mission of the Water North Coalition is to find and implement northern solutions to water sourcing and water challenges through advocacy, public education, attraction and retention, and training.

Its vision is to seek and ensure, through collaboration, that sustainable water systems are available to every northern community.

The Coalition proactively works with all other levels of government, including Indigenous Peoples, to create well­-balanced working groups with all key stakeholders relevant to impending conservation areas and species recovery. Emphasizing that northwest Alberta currently encompasses a vast amount of protected lands, the Coalition firmly believes that impending species recovery and conservation initiatives should aim to enhance the value of these areas for species at risk recovery and biodiversity, rather than seeking to protect unjustifiable additional areas of land.

Appointee:
Tahirih Wiebe

Alternate:
Marshall Auge

Senior Home Repair Committee (Term – 1 Year: October, 2023 – October 2024)
The purpose of the Senior Home Repair Committee is to review senior home applications. This committee meets on a monthly basis.

Appointees:
Leo Alook
Larry Cardinal
Louis A. Cardinal
Cheri Courtorielle
Darlene Jackson
Gerald Johnson
Brendan Powell
Tahirih Wiebe

Calling Lake Senior Housing Working Committee (Term – 1 Year: October, 2023 – October 2024)
The purpose of the Calling Lake Senior Housing Working Committee is to develop certain specifications for the Calling Lake Senior Housing units. This committee meets on an “as needed” basis.

Appointees:
Marshall Auger
Cheri Courtorielle
Darlene Jackson
Gerald Johnson
Brendan Powell

Recreation Committee (Term – 1 Year: October, 2023 – October 2024)
The purpose of the Recreation Committee is to discuss items pertaining to recreational issues as they arise. The Committee is comprised of members from Wabasca, Calling Lake, Rock Island Lake, and Sandy Lake. This committee meets on an “as needed” basis.

Appointees:
Leo Alook
Marshall Auger
Cheri Courtorielle
Darlene Jackson
Gerald Johnson
Brendan Powell
Tahirih Wiebe

Resource Staff:
Chief Administrative Officer and/or designate

Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) Committee
The purpose of the FRIAA Committee is to review locations for potential FireSmart projects. This committee meets on an “as needed” basis.

Appointees:
Cheri Courtorielle
Darlene Jackson
Gerald Johnson
Brendan Powell
Tahirih Wiebe

Resource Staff:
Chief Administrative Officer and/or designate

Clinic Committee (Term – 1 Year: October, 2023 – October 2024)

The purpose of the Clinic Committee is to discuss health concerns in the community. This committee meets on a monthly basis.

Appointees:
Marshall Auger
Brendan Powell
Darlene Jackson
Tahirih Wiebe

Resource Staff:
Chief Administrative Officer
Director of Corporate and Regulatory Service

Community Tripartite Committee
The purpose of the Community Tripartite Committee is to hear people’s concerns (e.g. policing), as they arise.

Appointees:
Darlene Jackson