RMA has submitted feedback to the Canadian Infrastructure Council to inform their development of the second National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA) report. RMA’s feedback was centered on the unique realities of rural infrastructure asset management and reinforces the importance of practical, scalable approaches that reflect rural municipal capacity.
Key themes from RMA’s submission include:
- Renewing asset management capacity‑building programs
The Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP) was a valuable program that provided hands‑on training and foundational skills for municipalities getting started in asset management. Since MAMP concluded in 2024, the resulting capacity gap has led to a need for renewed federal support for asset management education and tools.
- Developing and incentivizing use of consistent data systems
Drawing on findings from the development of RMA’s Rural Municipal Infrastructure Deficit Project, it was noted that municipalities’ bridge data was far more consistent than road or utility data due to the provincial Bridge Information System. This showed the value of more standardized reporting systems that municipalities can use without excessive administrative burden.
- Avoiding overly complex data requirements
Some asset management approaches push for the collection of overly detailed data, which can drain resources and act as a barrier to municipalities adopting or advancing in asset management; broader but less granular levels of data can yield stronger results when it comes to implementing asset management systems and strategies.
- Developing a provincial condition assessment framework
The framework should be practical, scalable, and define consistent inspection methods, rating scales, and minimum data requirements for core assets. Adopting this type of resource could help enable municipalities of all sizes and capacities to collect more comparable data while maintaining flexibility to adapt to local circumstances.
- Integrating asset management into funding programs
Municipalities’ adoption of asset management practices should be considered within provincial and federal infrastructure grant allocation formulas to encourage uptake and support evidence‑based investment decisions.
RMA will continue advocating for asset management approaches that recognize rural capacity constraints, support consistent and usable infrastructure data, and strengthen the long‑term adoption of asset management practices across rural Alberta.
For more information, contact RMA’s Policy and Advocacy Team at advocacy@rmalberta.com or 825.319.2383.