Culture, Recreation, and Sport Facility Infrastructure Deficit Report Card
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate to the Government of Alberta to fund Alberta Municipalities or a third-party organization to develop and maintain a database that provides an inventory of all culture, sport, and recreation facilities in Alberta and that the Government of Alberta use that inventory database to benchmark and make strategic and evidence-based decisions on investments in culture, sport, and recreation infrastructure.
WHEREAS culture, recreation, and sport enhance personal health and wellness, increase quality of life through physical activity and mental health, and play an important role in social connection and inclusion;
WHEREAS all Albertans should have the opportunity to access safe culture, recreation, and sport facilities that contribute to healthy citizens, community economic development, sport tourism, job creation and sustainability of the social fabric of communities;
WHEREAS Alberta’s municipalities are ineligible to access the provincial government’s Active Communities Initiative which allocates $30 million over three years for community groups, non-profit organizations and societies, First Nations, and Metis Settlements to renew, expand, and/or build small to medium sized public-use community sport and recreation facilities;
WHEREAS the province is expecting and encouraging continued population growth and municipal governments are primarily responsible for culture, recreation, and sport facilities in Alberta, yet the provincial government is reducing its funding support for municipal owned and operated facilities;
WHEREAS a provincial inventory of culture, sport, and recreation facilities that recognizes the physical deterioration of existing infrastructure in municipalities does not exist; and
WHEREAS a culture, recreation, and sport facility infrastructure deficit report card would reinforce the need for strategic and evidence-based decisions, and adequate funding is allocated towards infrastructure investments in municipal owned and operated facilities across Alberta.
A strong provincial economy requires healthy and complete communities, and culture, recreation, and sport are critical community infrastructure that is essential to all Albertans. The Canadian Infrastructure Report Card (2019) indicates that 30-35% of culture, recreation, and sport facilities are in fair or worse condition. (1)
(1) (2024, May 5). Retrieved from Canadian Infrastrucuture Report Card 2019: http://canadianinfrastructure.ca/downloads/canadian-infrastructure-report-card-2019.pdf
Most publicly owned recreation infrastructures were built between the mid 1950’s and early 1990’s and are nearing their useful life.
The Government of Alberta (GoA) recently announced the Active Communities Initiative which is an allocation of $30 million for community groups, non-profit organizations and societies, First Nations, and Metis Settlements to renew, expand, and/or build small to medium sized public-use community sport and recreation facilities. The grant program is intended for small and mid-sized sport and recreational facility projects and municipalities are considered ineligible. (2)
(2) Government of Alberta. (2024, May 3). Retrieved from Building Active Spaces and Brighter Futures: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=902887A915EF0-BF58-A6D7-35BC294F5758FF3A
Access by municipalities for culture, recreation, and sport funding is becoming scarce. The Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) and the Community Initiatives Program (CIP) once were accessible for municipalities to assist with the renewal, expansion, or building of public-use community facilities and are no longer. Although it is appreciated that funding is available to community partner organizations, most community facilities are managed directly by municipalities.
The provincial government quickly responds to municipal inquiries of recreation infrastructure funding programs to utilize the Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) Capital funding. Alberta’s municipalities know that is not possible as the provincial government’s spending on local infrastructure has dropped from 3.7% of total spending a decade ago to 1% today. This means that there is less investment of $1.3 billion in community infrastructure funding (3) and Alberta’s municipalities are facing an estimated $30 billion deficit that will worsen without government support. (4)
(3) Alberta Municipalities. (2024, May 5). Let's Talk About Infrastructure . Retrieved from Alberta Municipalities: https://www.abmunis.ca/system/files/2023-09/ABmunis%20Backgrounder_Funding%20of%20Local%20Infrastructure.pdf
(4) Alberta Municipalities . (2024, May 5). Local Government Fiscal Framework . Retrieved from Alberta Municipalities : https://www.abmunis.ca/advocacy-resources/infrastructure/local-government-fiscal-framework-lgff
The culture, sport, and recreation infrastructure deficit is not the only challenge. The provincial government has launched Phase 3 of its “Alberta is Calling” campaign which will be the province’s largest annual increase in the province’s history with an average of 550 people moving to Alberta every day. (5) Alberta’s annual population growth projection is expected to be 2.5% (2022-2025) with 4.5 million population in 2022 to 7.1 million in 2051. The population is expected to become increasingly diverse as immigration will account for 55% of the expected population growth over this period. (6) Municipalities are facing increasing pressure to accommodate the province’s growth and maintaining the current infrastructure while planning the addition of new subdivisions and community facilities.
(5) Gibson, C. (2024, May 9). 3rd Phase of Alberta is Calling is underway, but is province moving too fast? Retrieved from GlobAL News : https://globalnews.ca/news/10484561/alberta-is-calling-phase-3movingbonus/#:~:text=Phase%203%20of%20the%20Alberta,help%20build%20housing%20and%20infrastructure.
(6) Government of Alberta. (2024, May 3). Retrieved from Building Active Spaces and Brighter Futures: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=902887A915EF0-BF58-A6D7-35BC294F5758FF3A
ABmunis has encouraged municipalities to incorporate asset management practices to support the effective operation, maintenance and renewal of municipally owned infrastructure. A provincial database of recreation infrastructure would support this practice. If passed, this resolution will be forwarded to the Government of Alberta for a response. Further advocacy would be recommended to ABmunis’ Board by the Infrastructure Committee within the context of related priorities and positions. If the Government of Alberta is supportive of funding the initiative, ABmunis would work with the Government of Alberta to determine if ABmunis or another third-party organization are best positioned to develop and maintain the database.
ABmunis members were unable to vote on this resolution at ABmunis’ 2024 Convention due to insufficient time resulting from the high number and length of debate on other resolutions. Following the Convention, ABmunis consulted members in November 2024 prior to a vote by ABmunis Board of Directors where the resolution was defeated.