Globe-trotting MLA vows to keep lobbying

FRANK MCTIGHE MACLEOD GAZETTE EDITOR

Dave Coutts was thousands of miles away Tuesday while his home town made its final pitch to become the home of a $100-million police college.    The minister for sustainable resource development was in Japan leading an Alberta trade mission to which he committed 10 months ago.    "I have agonized over this," Coutts said Friday from Edmonton in a telephone interview.    Coutts left Monday for an 11-day mission to Japan and Korea to diversify and expand Alberta's forest economy.    The Fort Macleod resident considered cancelling his trip but did not want to risk offending Japanese and Korean officials.    As a result, the Livingstone-Macleod MLA had someone from his office represent him during the visit to Fort Macleod by the MLA committee reviewing the police college finalist.    "I even tried to get the chair of the MLA committee (West Yellowhead MLA Ivan Strang) to leave it to August 4 when I get back," Coutts said. "They couldn't do that."    While disappointed he couldn't be there on Tuesday, Coutts took solace from the knowledge he has lobbied hard in Edmonton on Fort Macleod's behalf.    "I'm in front of my colleagues all the time citing the benefits of the police college being in Fort Macleod," Coutts said.    Coutts phoned each member of the MLA committee, which includes Stony Plain MLA Fred Lindsay, Red Deer-North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski and Medicine Hat-Cypress MLA Len Mitzel.    "I've also talked to other MLAs," Coutts added.    In those conversations Coutts has pointed out Fort Macleod has a ready workforce, unlike other communities where the oil and gas and forestry industries are clamouring for workers. Coutts also points out putting the college in Fort Macleod fits with the province's rural development strategy.    "It just makes perfect sense to me to put it in Fort Macleod," Coutts said.    Coutts praised the work of Mayor Shawn Patience and his council, economic development officer Gordon MacIvor and the police college task force in putting together Fort Macleod's bid.    "Everybody worked very hard on that proposal," Coutts said. "Obviously it's a good proposal because Fort Macleod is in the final four."    Coutts also praised the support Fort Macleod residents have given the bid.    "The community has gotten behind it which makes it real easy for me to promote it up here in Edmonton," Coutts said.    The strong bid and community support have eased Coutts' uneasiness that he missed the visit of the MLA committee.    "This (Tuesday) is the time for the community to put it's best foot forward," said Coutts, who vowed to continue lobbying the MLA review committee.    "I'll be getting to them again before a decision is made," Coutts promised. "I'll be calling them from Japan."