Vote Lisa Wardley

We deserve a strong, educated, engaged voice. I believe in fair, responsive, accountable governance. Our region’s economic growth requires common sense policies that are collaborative and positive without selling out.

I want what you want:

The new combined Ward 9/10, is now nearly half the landmass of Mackenzie County, and the revenue driver for the whole municipality. We deserve a strong, educated, engaged voice.

• Fair Governance: Transparent, collaborative governance structure to prevent our rural voices from being further silenced.
• Responsive Governance: Being available and responsive to the Rate-Payers and Residents, be available to you and bring back local meetings and engagement.
• Accountable Governance: Common sense policies, sustainable expectations and responsible budgeting.
• Economic Growth: Supporting growth in the region and on the North side of the River through expanding our Agricultural land base, Tourism, value-added opportunities, Energy and Forestry Promoting northern corridors and connections.
• Population Growth & Infrastructure: Creating and supporting policy and infrastructure to grow the North side of the River sustainably and responsibly.
• Growth Nodes: Identifying and building out growth nodes within the Ward, to create dynamic rural housing and property choices to help combat our housing shortages, which will assist our largest employers in recruiting and retention.
• Relationships: Solid relationships with neighboring municipalities and communities, other levels of Gov’t and Industry is critical. Collaborative and positive without selling out.
• Future Governance: With the long-troubled history of governance in our area, and the changing dynamic of the region. I believe that the future for our region requires a serious look at creating a new municipal structure, two large rural municipalities, that take into account more than just population numbers, that put a value on land and resource.

With 20 years of networking and creating relationships across the Province I have had multiple opportunities to be appointed to Provincial Initiatives.

• Alberta Parole Board: Currently serve on and one of the founding Provincially Appointed members of the Alberta Parole Board. The Alberta Parole Board is an independent tribunal, that helps maintain safe communities for Albertans. The Board has exclusive jurisdiction to examine, hear and determine all matters and questions relating to the parole and the release of inmates serving time in a provincial institution.
• Alberta Provincial Economic Corridor Task Force: Appointed Northern Team Lead, work completed in November 2021. Was part of a province-wide task force to identify and build out the business case for economic corridors across the Province. Shortly after our work the transportation Ministry was renamed to include Economic Corridors, and some of what we worked on during that time has been announced through the Government of Alberta. Three of local interest that were identified through that work were the expansion of Highway 58 east through Wood Buffalo National Park to Fort Smith, West to Fort Nelson, and a corridor through our region to points in the Arctic and Alaska.
• Bistcho Sub-Regional Planning Task Force: Sub Regional Task forces are established to develop recommendations and advise the Government on sub-regional land planning, including caribou recovery actions, this work is far from completed as we still have limited access in Caribou areas.

• Chair, Forest Capital of Canada (2024-2025): Led application process for this national designation, I have worked alongside an amazing group of individuals throughout 2024 & 2025 to celebrate all things living, working and playing in the Mackenzie Region. FCC partnered with non-profits and communities across the region, and as one of our legacy projects we launched an educational program that features Boris the White Spruce to educate and showcase our region, it’s people and our Boreal Forest. www.fcc2024.com
• Chair, Northwest Species at Risk Committee (NWSAR): Since 2016, 13 rural and urban municipalities have been working together to bring local perspectives and voices to the tables to help unsure that a multi-species, working landscape, including communities socio-economic health. NWSAR was instrumental in getting the Province to roll back with sterilizing 1.8 million hectares in our region, and forced inclusion of local voices within land planning. With the substantial amount of crown land that we all rely on, local input and collaboration is critical to land planning for the future. www.albertanwsar.ca
• Chair, Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI): I have chaired REDI for over 8 years now. REDI was formed in 2002 to promote and enhance economic growth within our region and to promote the region as a whole. Membership includes Mackenzie County, High Level, Rainbow Lake, Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement, Beaver First Nation, and community organizations like our Chambers, Community Futures and Northern Lakes College. The North-to-Alaska Rail, Economic Corridors, many investor ready business cases and much more have been supported through REDI. www.rediregion.ca
• Director, Mackenzie Frontier Tourism Association (MFTA): I believe that tourism has unmeasurable opportunities in our region and have put in the time and effort to not only bring more tourism investment to the area, but also educating our locals what their role is in tourism. I was one of the founding members of MFTA, and enjoy working trade shows and events to promote our Region! www.mackenziefrontier.com

Over the years additional initiatives that I am or have been involved with as they affect our communities in some way, the list is long as I always put my hand up when it’s important to our region!