Jim Prentice meets with Alberta mayors to talk about future

The mayors of Alberta's two biggest cities met with the province's premier designate Jim Prentice today.

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Asked how his meeting went, Mayor Don Iveson said he and Jim Prentice agreed on the challenges facing Edmontonnamely affordable housing, opportunities for children and youth living in poverty and funding the citys police force.

The level of debate has gone up. We had the first round of a very grown up conversation and Im optimistic about where we're going to take it from there, said Iveson.

The two leaders also talked about the future of Edmontons LRT funding and agreed more money is needed but set no timeline.

I didn't feel like shaking down the premier on LRT funding before he's even sworn in yet there'll be plenty of time for that conversation," said Iveson. "But really, if we have a mature conversation about the roles and responsibilities and the need for mass transit in our cities ... then part of that financial framework is going to include long-term funding for the LRT."

Prentice, too, said transit funding will be one of his priorities as leader.

I think the need for LRT and the provincial government and our cities to work together on the buildout of LRTs, so we can have world-calibre cities with world-calibre transportation networks to me, thats always been obvious as a citizen of this province.

Both men agreed they had a good discussion about the city charter process, and promised an ongoing spirit of collaboration as Prentice, Iveson and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi develop their roadmap in the coming weeks.

Quick wins on the table, says Nenshi

The past is the past, but we have someone who we can work with, Iveson said. We can have a high level of discussion, I think, based on the conversation we had, and I think things can move quickly because we covered a day's worth of topics in an hour.

You'll certainly see a new spirit of partnership from the get go, agreed Prentice. I think we have a bright future working together.

Prentice, who lived in Edmonton as a teenager and again as a university student, said he will maintain a home in the capital.

After meeting with Iveson, Prentice drove to Calgary to meet with Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says Prentice could post some quick wins if he took action on some things for Calgary.

Nenshi says abandoning plans to have the province take over 911 dispatch services, restoring funding for Calgary's performing arts centre and approving the Calgary Metropolitan Plan would be good for the city.

The mayor says other decisions on city issues could help Prentice put his own stamp on government.

"There are broader and bigger issues around the city charter, around long-term infrastructure funding, around funding for transit that need to be put in to place quickly," said Nenshi.

"ButIthink that [Prentice]could really send a signal ... with these quick wins showing that he's serious about looking at cities in a different way."