Council reviews proposed REM bylaw

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Vauxhall Advance

By Nikki Jamieson
Vauxhall Advance
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Vauxhall council reviewed a proposed bylaw for regional emergency management.

Bryce Surina, director of community services for the Municipal District of Taber, presented on a proposed Regional Emergency Management Bylaw as a delegation during Vauxhall council’s regular July 21 meeting. The presentation was aimed at gathering feedback from council as they craft a regional approach to emergency management

“Essentially, what we’re trying to do is to put all of the important parts in place, to formalize this regional approach to emergency management,” said Surina. “This is essentially what we understood some of the practices to be, some of the things we tried to accomplish in the past, some of the things we are working towards. But essentially, this formalizes it, gives us good direction as a group of municipalities.”

Surina said the regional collaboration consists of Vauxhall, Barnwell, and the M.D. of Taber, with each municipality getting their own bylaw. A copy of the proposed bylaw was not included in the agenda package for the Vauxhall council meeting, but Surina said it would outline the ministerial order, their authority to work as a team, the committee, and agency. Each municipal would still have their own director of emergency management and a municipal emergency management plan, allowing them handle issues locally on their own. However, they would still be able ability to engage the regional group, including a regional DEM.

“Each municipality would be responsible, just as they are now, for declaring their own SOLE, that is, state of local emergency,” said Surina. “You’re also responsible for any costs that are incurred by the municipality, like you are today. You would have access to a regional DEM to help facilitate, again, like we have today, just formalization.”

However, because they would be working with the committee, sitting down and talking about the SOLE as a group, it would make the declaration process more efficient. Each member would also have access to all the training and exercises put on by the group, as well as apply for grants together and share resources.

“It helps us keep everything in sync.”

When asked what the finances  are for the regional group, Surina said there was a draft budget. As many of the costs involved would already be costs that they would incur today, they would be able to show those as the costs of emergency management. While there will be expenses they would need to add to the budget, they weren’t entirely sure how much they will be, with Surina using the example of table-top exercise and facilities.