To improve reporting on resolution advocacy, the RMA releases a monthly bulletin highlighting recent updates and actions undertaken on select active resolutions
The Monthly Resolution Update Bulletin is a way of routinely highlighting a selection of the over 70 currently active resolutions, offering members a more detailed insight into the work being carried out on their behalf. For the latest formal statuses and reactions to all resolutions, view the RMA’s Resolutions Database.
The March 2026 edition of the Monthly Resolution Update Bulletin features the following resolutions:
Resolution 9-25S: Water and Wastewater System Funding
Resolution 9-25S calls on the Government of Alberta to restore Water for Life (W4L) funding levels and expand W4L eligibility to include water and wastewater distribution systems. W4L is already a critical program for rural municipalities, helping repair and replace Alberta’s aging water infrastructure. Expanding it to cover distribution systems would allow municipalities to deliver safe, reliable water services at a sustainable cost.
RMA’s Infrastructure Deficit Project found that repairing all rural water and wastewater infrastructure in Alberta would cost $2.96 billion in 2024, a figure that has only grown since. Yet Budget 2026 allocates just over $350 million across all provincial water‑related programs, including W4L. While W4L funding is increasing from $51.3 million in 2025 to $97.6 million in 2026, this remains not only below the $110.7 million that was previously affirmed but nowhere near the scale required to address the province’s infrastructure deficit.
These funding levels leave rural municipalities in an increasingly difficult position. At a time when the need for major repairs is becoming apparent to maintain safe, life‑sustaining water services, the province’s insufficient investment is deeply concerning. RMA will continue to advocate for the funding and eligibility changes needed to prevent serious failures in rural water and wastewater systems – before communities face the prospect of catastrophic outages.
Resolution 8-25S: Opposition to Water Act Amendments
Resolution 8-25S highlights rural municipalities’ concerns with water management decisions taken by the Government of Alberta .This resolution also highlights concerns with water availability definitions and inter-basin transfers and calls for proposed amendments to be stalled until proper consultation is conducted with rural municipalities.
In 2025, the Government of Alberta launched Phase 2 of the Water Availability engagement which informed the creation of the Water Amendment Act. RMA provided input related to this resolution to express disagreement with reduced oversight of inter-basin transfers. However, amendments were implemented by the Government of Alberta as proposed.
In March 2026, RMA met with the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, and discussed the Water Amendment Act, highlighting the concerning modifications to inter-basin transfers and related water management changes. RMA will continue to monitor the impacts of the Water Amendment Act and continue engaging with the Government of Alberta to ensure adequate municipal involvement in future water policy changes.
Resolution 5-25F: Increasing Funding for Alberta’s Libraries
Resolution 5-25F calls on the Government of Alberta to increase the per capita library funding component and to ensure library funding is regularly adjusted to account for Alberta’s growing population. The Government of Alberta has not indexed library funding to inflation or increased library funding as a result of Alberta’s growing population and increasing library usage. The Government of Alberta contributes a $9,000 base operating funding grant and a per capita funding component that is cost shared between the Government of Alberta and municipalities. If municipalities contribute $3.52 per person, they receive the maximum per capita funding amount, $5.65, from the Government of Alberta. Resolution 5-25F highlights that these per capita funding amounts have not increased since 2016.
Municipal Affairs’ response indicated that the Government of Alberta is facing significant financial pressures and that they will not increase the per capita library operating funding amount at this time, but that the amount could be reconsidered in budget 2026-27. Based on RMA’s analysis of Budget 2026, an increase in library funding was not included. Budget 2025-26 government estimates show library spending was as budgeted, and 2026-27 documents show a funding increase of just under $1 million. For Alberta’s 324 libraries, 2026-27 library funding amounts to an increase of just over $3,000 per library.
Stay tuned for future editions of the Monthly Resolution Update Bulletin, where we will continue to feature updates on selected resolutions.
Warren Noga
Manager of Policy and Research
825.319.2285
warren@rmalberta.com