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WHEREAS Government of Alberta does not recognize some hamlet settlements as “hamlets” for the purpose of funding water and wastewater projects; and
WHEREAS certain hamlets in Alberta were established prior to 1905, before the Province of Alberta was created; and
WHEREAS these historical communities were founded under unique settlement patterns, including the “Plat of Zion”, “Garden lot, or “Agricultural Village” community design, resulting in larger-than-standard residential lots that exceed TEC’s current maximum lot size requirement of 1,850 m² (0.457 ac); and
WHEREAS residents in these communities require access to potable water systems that meet Government of Alberta regulations to ensure the health and safety of residents; and
WHEREAS the exclusion of these historical hamlets from the official list of approved hamlets eligible for potable water funding places an undue burden on residents and restricts equitable access to essential infrastructure; and
WHEREAS acknowledging and supporting communities that predate Alberta’s provincial status is essential to preserving settlement history and ensuring fair access to provincial programs.
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) advocate to the Government of Alberta to formally recognize hamlets established before 1905 as “historical hamlets”; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of Alberta amend its potable water funding eligibility requirements so that all historical hamlets are included, regardless of current lot size standards; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED the Government of Alberta work with municipalities to secure potable water funding for these historical hamlets in compliance with provincial health and environmental safety standards.
Member Background:
Alberta is home to over 430 recognized hamlets, many of which were founded well before Alberta became a province in 1905. These early communities often developed under unique planning traditions that differ from modern subdivision standards.
One notable example is the “Plat of Zion” design, introduced by settlers in the late 1800s. This planning model emphasized wide streets, a central gathering space, and residential lots much larger than today’s standards—often one acre or more. As a result, many of Alberta’s pre-1905 hamlets have lot sizes that exceed Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors’ current potable water funding eligibility threshold of 1,850 m² (0.457 ac).
Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors administer programs such as the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP) and Water for Life (W4L), which provide cost-shared grants to municipalities for water and wastewater infrastructure. To qualify, a hamlet must be recognized by the province and meet certain technical requirements, including minimum numbers of dwellings and maximum lot sizes. While these rules may fit newer, compact communities, they unintentionally exclude historical hamlets that were designed differently and established before Alberta’s provincial boundaries were even drawn.
This creates a significant gap:
Cardston County has a few hamlets that do not qualify for funding because of their lot sizes. Three of them are Aetna, Mountain View and Leavitt, all of which were established in the late 1800s. These communities were built on larger lots under the Plat of Zion model, making them ineligible for funding despite being long-standing settlements with clear municipal recognition. Similar challenges exist across Alberta in other pre-1905 hamlets that share unique planning legacies.
Alberta Primary and Preventative Services (formerly Alberta Health) and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas have identified concerns regarding the safety and reliability of water within certain hamlets and have engaged in discussions with Cardston County to address how safe and compliant water sources can be secured. In response, the County has prepared detailed regional waterline plans to deliver potable water to these communities. However, without access to provincial funding, the County is unable to move these projects forward to construction.
Recognizing these historical hamlets and adjusting eligibility criteria would:
RMA Background:
9-25S: Water and Wastewater System Funding
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate for the Government of Alberta to restore Water for Life Program (WFLP) funding levels and expand WFLP eligibility to include water and wastewater distribution system replacements and maintenance.
Click here to view the full resolution.
Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors
Thank you for forwarding the two resolutions passed at the Rural Municipalities of Alberta’s (RMA) Fall 2025 Convention. I appreciate RMA’s continued engagement with the Government of Alberta on matters affecting rural communities. As Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, I am able to provide the following information.
Regarding Resolution 9-25F, Transportation and Economic Corridors acknowledges the historical significance of rural communities established prior to Alberta’s provincial status in 1905 and recognizes some of these settlements were developed under legacy planning frameworks which differ from modern subdivision standards.
Provincial municipal water and wastewater funding programs administered by Transportation and Economic Corridors, including the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP) and Water for Life (W4L), are designed to support infrastructure in communities where centralized systems are most appropriate, sustainable, and cost-effective. As such, program eligibility criteria is intentionally structured to direct limited provincial funding toward compact settlement patterns which align with program objectives and broader land-use and infrastructure planning principles.
To meet the eligibility requirements under AMWWP and W4L, a hamlet must consist of a minimum of 10 occupied dwellings, the majority of which are located on titled parcels smaller than 1,850 square metres. Additional criteria include a defined boundary, a distinct community name, and provision for non-residential uses. These requirements are intended to distinguish standalone hamlets from rural subdivisions and to focus provincial investment on communities where centralized water and wastewater systems provide the greatest public benefit.
Expanding eligibility for AMWWP and W4L to include all hamlets recognized under the Municipal Government Act would significantly increase demand on these programs, which are already oversubscribed relative to available funding. Any change to eligibility criteria would need to be carefully considered in the context of program objectives, fiscal capacity, infrastructure sustainability, and equitable access across the province.
Within Cardston County, only the hamlets of Welling and Spring Coulee currently meet the eligibility requirements of AMWWP and W4L. Other communities within the County, including Mountain View, Leavitt, Aetna, Carway, and Del Bonita, do not meet the current program criteria. While I recognize the challenges this presents for affected municipalities, the department remains committed to ongoing dialogue with RMA, Municipal Affairs, and other provincial partners to better understand local circumstances and to explore options which align with provincial infrastructure, public health, and environmental objectives, while maintaining clarity and consistency in program delivery.
Thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of rural municipalities and for your constructive engagement with the Government of Alberta. I look forward to continued collaboration on shared infrastructure priorities.
Alberta Municipal Affairs
Regarding Resolution 9-25F, I recognize the importance of preserving historical communities and the challenges associated with funding eligibility. The province already recognizes and maintains a list of hamlets; however, a ‘historical’ designation is not currently tracked. The Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC) administers programs such as the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership and Water for Life; therefore, this matter predominantly falls under the jurisdiction of TEC. I have copied my colleague, the Honourable Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, for his consideration and response.
Development:
The designation of a “historical hamlet” presents an opportunity to formally recognize the significant history of smaller Alberta communities that were established prior to provincial status, while also affirming the principle that all Albertans should have the opportunity to live safely and sustainably in the communities of their choosing. Central to this principle is access to essential services such as potable water and wastewater infrastructure that meet provincial health and environmental standards.
RMA appreciates the minister’s direct and transparent explanation of the Government of Alberta’s current approach to water and wastewater funding programs, including the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP) and Water for Life (W4L). The minister’s acknowledgement of the historical significance of pre-1905 settlements and of legacy planning frameworks – such as larger lot sizes resulting from early settlement patterns – is an important recognition of the unique circumstances facing these communities. RMA also notes the minister’s confirmation that the hamlets of Welling and Spring Coulee meet existing eligibility criteria and may access provincial support for centralized water and wastewater infrastructure.
However, the minister’s response also confirms that hamlets which do not conform to modern eligibility criteria remain excluded from provincial funding regardless of demonstrated need or concerns related to water quality and public health. This outcome does not align with the intent of Resolution 9-25F, which specifically called for the recognition of pre-1905 communities and for amendments to funding eligibility criteria to address the unintended exclusion of historically planned hamlets.
The minister further emphasized that AMWWP and W4L are oversubscribed and that expanding eligibility would increase pressure on already limited funding. RMA acknowledges existing fiscal constraints; however, this response underscores a broader and ongoing concern regarding insufficient provincial investment in rural water and wastewater infrastructure.
As identified through the Rural Municipal Infrastructure Deficit Project (RMIDP), Alberta faced a $46 million holding cost in 2023 to simply maintain existing water and wastewater infrastructure at that current state of repair – a figure that continues to grow. The estimated $331 million required to bring water and wastewater systems to an optimal and sustainable condition far exceeds the $44.7 million allocated for water and wastewater programs in the 2026 Budget. This funding gap directly impacts rural municipalities’ ability to provide safe, reliable utility services and disproportionately affects small and historical communities.
While RMA recognizes that the Government of Alberta must make difficult decisions regarding program design, fiscal capacity, and funding allocation, the continued exclusion of certain hamlets from eligibility – combined with persistently inadequate overall funding – demonstrates a growing disconnect between stated commitments to equity, public health, and infrastructure sustainability, and the practical realities faced by rural Albertans. This is particularly concerning in a province with the fiscal capacity Alberta possesses.
Irrespective of the designation of “historical hamlets,” there remains a significant gap between the province’s stated recognition of historical settlement patterns, the structure of existing funding programs, and the level of investment required to ensure the long-term security of water and wastewater infrastructure across rural Alberta.
As the requests outlined in Resolution 9-25F have not been met – including the formal recognition of historical hamlets for funding purposes and the amendment of eligibility criteria – RMA assigns this resolution a status of Intent Not Met. RMA remains committed to continued constructive dialogue and collaboration with the Government of Alberta to advance shared infrastructure, public health, and sustainability priorities.
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