Hearing days before expected opening
Pearl Lorentzen
Lakeside Leader
The Slave Lake Homeless Coalition hopes to open the doors of a temporary Mat Program on November 1. However, this may not be the case.
On Thursday, October 27 at 1 p.m., the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) will hold a public hearing about an appeal brought against the Municipal Planning Commission’s (MPC’s) permission for the Mat Program. The written decisions of the SDAB will be available within 15 days of the hearing, but this could be 11 days after the Mat Program hoped to be open.
Since about 2014, the Mat Program has provided a warm, safe place to sleep in the winter in Slave Lake for people experiencing homelessness. However, this is not the first year, that the existence of the service was in doubt leading up to (or even passing) the expected open date.
The plan for the 2022-23 winter is for people seeking to be housed in a temporary shelter (a skid shack) on the southeastern edge of the Slave Lake Fire Hall complex. This skid shack, heated porta potties, and the use of the land are provided by the Town of Slave Lake.
The fence dividing this area from the rest of the compound and the community is already in place. The location is next to a trail which connects 6 Ave. NW with Big Fish Bay campground north of Caribou Trail. The site is across the trail from The Gathering Place.
Community members for or against the appeal can speak at the public hearing.
A brochure from the Alberta government highlights the SDAB hearing procedures. The hearing has seven parts.
First, the SDAB chair outlines the process, what each party’s role is during the procedure, and the clerk reads the appeal.
Second, the MPC describes its decision.
Third, the applicant (in this case the Homeless Coalition) will make a presentation about its proposal.
Fourth, the appellant (person or persons appealing the decision) will make a presentation.
Fifth, people impacted by the decision can speak. These can be either for or against the appeal. People in favour of the appeal speak first. People against the appeal will speak afterward.
“The board will have the opportunity to ask questions or clarification, directed through the chairperson, after each presenter,” says the pamphlet. “The appellant and other participants in the hearing may also ask questions of one another; these should generally be directed through the chairperson.”
Sixth, people who have presented may make brief summaries and closing remarks, including responding to anything which came up after their presentations.
Seventh, the hearing will be closed by the chairperson. A written decision will be released within 15 days of the close of the hearing.
“Although the SDAB is required to conduct a public hearing, it may deliberate and make its decisions in meetings closed to the public,” says the brochure.
People with questions about the Homeless Coalition can contact Jacki Freamo, executive director, at executive.director@slhcs.ca or check out the Slave Lake Homeless Coalitions’s Facebook page.
