WHEREAS the Municipal Government Act provides for the annexation of lands from one municipality to another; AND WHEREAS the Municipal Government Act requires that the municipal authority from which the land is to be annexed must on receipt of such notice meet with the initiating municipal authority to discuss the proposals included in the notice and negotiate the proposal in good faith; AND WHEREAS the Municipal Government Act requires the municipality requesting annexation to outline the reasons for the proposed annexation; AND WHEREAS a resolution requiring that annexation costs be paid by the initiating municipality was passed unanimously at the Spring 2003 Convention;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties urge the Government of Alberta to require the initiating municipality of annexation proceedings to provide a consultant mutually agreed to by both parties to do an independent study on the growth needs of both municipalities and the financial impact on both municipalities prior to the commencement of negotiations.

None provided.

This resolution was referred from the spring 2004 convention.

The provincial government has declined to support this resolution. Annexation procedure, however, is a major issue being considered in the AAMDCs Land Use Framework Discussion Paper, which will be put to the provincial government later this year.