It appears progress is being made towards setting up a meeting between City of North Battleford officials and the federal government on public safety issues.
In response to an inquiry by Councillor Ryan Bater at Monday's council meeting, Mayor Ian Hamilton indicated there has been correspondence with the federal minister responsible and they are attempting to establish a date for that meeting. The exact date has not been confirmed yet but "it will be imminent, it did appear," said Hamilton.
There is still some question as to where the meeting will take place - in the constituency or in Ottawa. In response to a question on that from Councillor Trent Houk, Hamilton said those details were still to be worked out.
He acknowledged that it was difficult to get a minister out of Ottawa while the House is sitting.
"We have offered to send a delegation to Ottawa if that's what's necessary."
City Manager Jim Toye elaborated further about their correspondence with Steven Blaney, the federal minister of public safety.
The first option offered was for city council to host the minister in North Battleford, but the second option was to send a delegation to Ottawa.
Council passed a resolution in October calling for a joint meeting with federal and provincial ministers to devise an action plan on public safety issues in North Battleford.
Since then Hamilton and Toye have met with provincial minister of corrections Christine Tell and provincial minister of justice Gordon Wyant in Regina on the issue.
