Achi news desk-
Controversial legislation originally aimed at giving the Alberta government more power over municipalities but expected to be scaled back did not make it through the legislature Wednesday due to time constraints.
Bill 20 was introduced last month. He sought to give more powers to the province, including the ability to repeal by-laws and dismiss city councillors.
The government was expected to table amendments to the bill around 5 pm on Wednesday, but due to debate on other bills, time ran out.
Ric McIver, Alberta’s minister of municipal affairs, told CTV News Edmonton earlier Wednesday that the amendment would include two changes.
Based on CTV News Edmonton’s conversations with civic leaders representing most urban and rural communities, expected changes will focus specifically on when or why a local bylaw or city councilor can be removed.
Municipal leaders have been calling for more specific language in the bill about when the province could change or repeal a bylaw, or remove a city councilor or even a mayor.
McIver said he met with local leaders to help shape the amendments, including during a phone call with Tyler Gandam, president of Alberta Municipalities, just minutes before speaking to the media.
“The improvements are very much a result of conversations with municipal leaders, so I hope they’re either more unhappy or less unhappy,” McIver told reporters Wednesday at the legislature.
Bill 20 has been heavily criticized by local leaders since it was introduced about a month ago.
Edmonton city council unanimously passed a motion calling for the measure to be scrapped until further consultation is completed.
The president of Alberta Rural Municipalities has strongly criticized the measure, calling it the worst thing to happen to municipalities in almost two decades.
