Division Four

Elkton/ Rugby, Westcott; Parts of Fallentimber, Bergen, Harmattan and Westerdale

Bruce Beattie

Reeve, Mountain View County

I moved to Bergen in 1970 to work as a dairy herdsman for Roy and Mary Reed, on the land they had purchased in 1948. I bought their farm in 1972, and continued supplying Sundre Creamery with fluid milk until it closed after which our milk was sold to Palm Dairies in Calgary. My wife Val joined me in 1977, and over the next 35 years we gradually expanded the dairy to 70 milking cows shipping to Calgary and Red Deer. During that time I served the agriculture industry on many Boards and committees, locally, provincially and nationally.

In 2005 we moved our dairy herd to a location near Innisfail where we partner with another dairy farmer in a joint venture, milking 150 cows. We continue to live on our farm in Bergen where we raise Gelbvieh cattle, Appaloosa horses and try to make hay.

As your Councillor for Division Four and County Reeve, I will pursue the following based upon the principle of :

OPEN, HONEST AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNANCE

SPENDING THAT MATCHES NEEDS - NOT WANTS
- Address escalating budget for administration
- Re-evaluation of expenditures and priorities

SUPPORT OF FARMS AND FARMERS
- Creation of Agriculture, Environment and Parks Services as a new department
- Removal of bureaucratic barriers to farm diversification.
- Continue support for "Right to Farm" regulations

PRACTICAL AND COMMON SENSE POLICY DEVELOPMENT
- Respect for the rural culture of our County.
- Applying the "SMART" test to new initiatives and bylaws (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely)

SENSIBLE GROWTH - FAIR AND CONSISTENT POLICIES
- Value the input of local residents
- Area Structure Plans must take precedence in land use decisions.
- Decisions must be policy based - if the policy is wrong then change it.
- Exploration of innovative ways to protect farm land without punishing land owners. (Environmental Goods and Services / Development Credits/Land Trusts)

RELIANCE ON IN-HOUSE EXPERTISE
- Empowering employees by recognizing ability and delegating authority.
- Infrastructure maintenance by County staff and equipment
- Limit the use of outside consultants

Committees:

Councillor Articles

• Mix and Match
• A little slice of paradise