On November 22, the Government of Alberta introduced a number of amendments to Bill 21: Modernized Municipal Government Act. As a representative of Alberta’s rural municipalities, the AAMDC has advocated on behalf of rural municipal interests and is pleased to see a number of amendments that are directly reflective of the AAMDC’s positions, including the removal of the 30% benefit threshold for the application of off-site levies on community infrastructure such as fire halls, police stations, and libraries.
The AAMDC does have some reservations about a number of the changes, including further restrictions on the appointment of elected councillors to boards that review and hear appeals related to planning and development and property assessments. The AAMDC is also concerned that the timelines for the development of intermunicipal collaborative frameworks (ICFs) are not sufficient given the magnitude of negotiating agreements between every bordering municipality in the province.
The AAMDC looks forward to continued collaboration with the Government of Alberta on the review of the Municipal Government Act and related regulations.
The house amendments to Bill 21 impact the following areas:
- Municipally Controlled Corporations
- Planning and Development Appeal Board Membership
- Councillor Orientation and Training
- Centralized Industrial Assessment
- Intermunicipal Collaboration
- Offsite Levies
- Decision Making Timelines for Development Permits
For full summary of the changes, please click here.
Please note, the AAMDC has not been provided the legal text of the amendments but instead has received confirmation of the changes via Alberta Municipal Affairs. Any changes in interpretation following analysis of the amended bill will be communicated to AAMDC members as soon as possible.
Enquiries may be directed to:
| Matt Dow Policy Analyst 780.955.4085 |
Kim Heyman Director of Advocacy & Communications 780.955.4079 |