Achi news desk-
The Alberta government has introduced legislation that would give it sweeping powers over municipalities across the province, including the right to fire councilors and revoke bylaws.
Bill 20, the Municipal Regulations Amendment Act, includes two pieces of legislation: the Local Authority Elections Act (LAEA) and the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
If accepted, the amendments to the municipal government law will allow the cabinet to remove a council member “if in the public interest” or to order a referendum to decide whether a council member should be removed, which will be examined in each case on its merits. .
The amendment will also allow the cabinet to require a municipal government to amend or repeal a bylaw, as well as give the cabinet the ability to postpone elections.
Currently, the provincial cabinet can only intervene in the municipal by-law for land uses or a statutory plan. Only the Minister of Municipal Affairs can remove an incumbent councilor under certain circumstances through a municipal review process.
The legislation also proposes to allow municipalities to require criminal record checks for candidates as part of their nomination package. At this stage, applicants can be disqualified for certain criminal convictions on their records, including offenses related to corruption.
“Albertans expect fair and free elections, and through this legislation, we are ensuring that local elected officials are accountable to the Albertans who elect them and make decisions that are clearly in the interests of Alberta and reflect the transparency and fairness that Albertans deserve,” Minister Rick McIver told reporters Thursday.
Kyle Kasauski, the opposition’s auditor of municipal affairs, said that city councils have a duty to represent the citizens who elect them.
“They know best how to run their own affairs. What municipalities need is adequate funds so they can fix the crumbling infrastructure in their communities and pay for the programs Albertans deserve,” Kasauski said in an emailed statement.
On Thursday, municipal politicians rushed to reject the bill.
Edmonton District. Aaron Puckett wrote on social media, “Bend the knee or get fired?
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gundak said she is left with more questions than answers. While she welcomes criminal record checks on applicants, she has raised concerns about other parts of the bill.
“This is legislation that requires a thoughtful and full response. However, we have little to no details on things that will change the face of municipal authorities,” she told reporters at a news conference Thursday.
“The provincial government claims that this is to ensure that the local elections are transparent, fair and free.
“But I remain asking why they inserted themselves into the municipal authorities in a way that actually denies the right of the voting public to choose the council that they think is the best to serve?”
Edmonton Mayor Amarjit Sohi said in a social media post that an overwhelming majority of residents do not want political parties at the local level. According to him, the legislation will make decision-making in the city council more toxic and divisive.
“People know that local issues are not partisan issues,” he said.
Gundak added that the provincial government is exceeding its authority with the legislation.
“If the people in the county government are interested in doing the work of city government, maybe they should have run for those positions.”
However, McIver said the government’s power to overturn planning decisions had existed for years but had never been used.
“We often remind the federal and municipal governments to stay in their lane. And every once in a while, maybe, the provincial government needs to be reminded to stay in their lane, and this is one of those examples,” he said.
Alberta Municipalities President Tyler Gundam said the organization that represents more than 260 municipalities will seek clarification on the details of the bill, particularly when it comes to allowing cabinet to revoke bylaws and fire elected councillors.
“Why? What would be the parameters for them to be able to do that?” He said, adding that it is not clear how political parties can improve city councils.
“It just feels like they’re not listening to Albertans.”
Allow political parties in municipal elections
The proposed changes would also allow municipal political parties in the October 2025 municipal elections, but only as a “pilot project” in Calgary and Edmonton.
According to the proposed legislation, candidates are not required to join a political party in order to run for local office.
Officials said municipal parties cannot be officially affiliated with provincial or federal parties, however, the legislation would not prevent them from using names similar to existing political parties.
“Party affiliation at the local level is something that is already happening, especially in larger cities,” McIver said.
“The amendments we are making will actually create the regulatory authority for the government to define local parties, which will allow the parties to register with the municipality.
“If and when this happens, the municipality will be required to include a party of candidates on the ballot in the local elections.”
But Kasauski said city councils across Alberta have made it clear they don’t want political parties in local elections.
“Municipal citizens elect local representatives to serve the interests of their community, not because of the color of the party flag they fly,” said a municipal affairs auditor.
“Danielle Smith needs to understand that city councils are not a farm team for the UCP to carry out their wishes at the municipal level.”
Calgary Ward District 13. Dan McLean told reporters Thursday that the district is trying to formalize “what’s already in place,” saying many groups support slates of candidates during the municipal election.
However, he said he expects city councilors to remain independent in the council chambers because they were elected to represent their constituents.
“I would always hope that councilors would remain independent and represent their ward, regardless of whether they were supported by a party that leans more towards conservative values ​​… or more to the left,” McLean said.
Calgary Ward District 8. Courtney Walcott asked the district’s motivations behind the legislation.
He told reporters that the new legislation would discourage independent candidates from running for local office because they would have to respond to a partisan and “partisan” political system.
Walcott also said the party system would create centralized ideologies and limit the ways councilors could represent their constituents.
“Is it really just a matter of the county trying to introduce some kind of control over municipal elections because they really can’t deal with the fact that city councils tend to be independent and the end result is that they don’t play the party line as much as they want us to? Because that would make their lives easier If other elected officials don’t ask the questions,” he told reporters.
“I think the provincial government wants to be the central government, which is always ironic, of course, because there are so many accusations of socialism and communism. However, it seems that only the province is trying to become sovereign from the federal government and is now trying to take over the local governments.”
Campaign financing expanded, tabulators were banned
The legislation proposes several changes to campaign finance rules, including the return of union and corporate contributions to individual candidates with a maximum of $5,000; Previously prohibited in the last municipal elections.
Donations will also be possible outside of the local election year and candidates and elected officials will be required to report them annually.
If the legislation passes, third-party advertisers will report funds when campaigning on a referendum issue, after the contributions have been settled only during a third-party promotion or opposition of a candidate during an election.
Contributions to third-party advertisers will also be limited to a maximum of $5,000 during election periods. Currently, these donations are limited to $30,000.
“That way, Albertans know exactly who is donating and there will be reasonable limits to ensure fundraising doesn’t get out of hand,” McIver said.
“Elections in Alberta belong to Alberta, so the updates will ensure that only Albertans, Alberta companies and Alberta-based union locals can contribute to third-party issue-based advertising. The proposed changes will make third-party advertisers to issue-based campaigns subject to the same contribution limits as donors to local election candidates.”
House Bill 20 would also eliminate electronic ballots and automatic voting machines if passed. All ballots will have to be counted by hand.
The bill would also require a recount if requested by a candidate when the gap is within half a percent of the total votes received.
Bill is an attempt to create a conservative council: political scientist
Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University in Calgary, said Trail 20 is an attempt to create conservative city councils in Calgary and Edmonton by the province.
“We’ve had periodic discussions about political parties, but not very seriously and the provincial government seems to be enthusiastic about it despite public opposition. They don’t seem interested in doing it on the surface, only in the city of Calgary and Edmonton,” he said.
“(Prime Minister Daniel Smith) specifically said that this is about getting rid of progressive mayors and progressive councils. This is a partisan move.”
Bratt also said the bill highlights historic tensions between city and county governments.
Municipal governments are the domain of the provincial government and Bratt said Alberta can choose to repeal or amend bylaws and remove councilors if they see fit.
Bratt said he wants more restrictions on political fundraising and to remove the ability of unions and corporations to donate to political campaigns.
“Often we know who is donating to a third party. Third parties are not supposed to coordinate with campaigns… I want to tighten these rules significantly… But I think it’s an important step to remove corporate and union funding of city races, whether it’s direct donations And whether it’s to third parties.” he said.
“I also want to see changes to remember the legislation… I think the threshold should be separate, depending on whether you’re a small city or a big city. I think everything should be done. I think we also need funding rules around municipal recalls.”
– With files from Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
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