Strengthening asset management in Alberta

Alberta – Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, and Scott Pearce, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), announced a federal investment of $300,000 to help 6 communities in Alberta implement innovative strategies to manage their municipal infrastructure.

Known as asset management, this investment will help the communities ensure that their infrastructure such as arenas, bridges, drinking water and wastewater systems, and roads are working as efficiently as possible. It will also allow them to make better investment decisions. Asset management additionally helps reduce risks so municipalities can provide reliable and affordable services and a high quality of life to their residents.

Among the communities:

• The County of Wetaskiwin No. 10. It receives $50,000 to improve its data collection, data input, reporting capabilities, and to expand asset management support.
•  The Town of Redwater. It receives $50,000 to undertake a project to assess and prioritize the condition of all municipal buildings. An asset management spreadsheet will be created to capture costs associated with identified issues and help with forecasting and budgeting processes for future capital and operations.
• The County of Newell. It receives $50,000 to undertake a study of the condition of its roads. The study will include assessments of all gravel roads to determine maintenance requirements. The findings will be reviewed and used to shape Newell’s asset management practices and contribute to its 10-year capital budget. The study will also help the County plan for the renewal of gravel roads and future maintenance activities with the goal to reach best life-cycle costs.