The letter provides a series of directives for the Minister to pursue in areas related to land use planning and development, finance, governance, and local autonomy.
On September 22, Premier Danielle Smith issued several mandate letters to various ministers. Most notable for RMA was the letter issued to Hon. Dan Williams, Minister of Municipal Affairs. The letter includes 13 directives seeking potentially substantial changes to many components of municipal operations. Based on initial analysis, RMA has organized the directives into the following categories:
Land use planning and development
- Continue working with municipalities and local businesses to benchmark, measure and reduce the time it takes to approve permits to create a more attractive business investment environment.
- Review and engage on how the government can support urban development that meets young Albertans’ goals of home ownership in safe, affordable, attractive, livable family-friendly communities that reflect Alberta’s distinct values and heritage.
- Complete development of an ‘Automatic Yes’ permitting program which will set shortened approval timeframes for all permitting overseen by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs coupled with an automatic approval for applications that are not rejected prior to the lapse of the maximum allowable assessment period.
- Streamline approval processes and reduce impediments for all permitting overseen by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to enable the timely development of affordable housing.
Municipal Finance
- In consultation with municipalities and the business community, explore and make recommendations for ways to limit excessive municipal property tax increases for businesses and residents.
- Develop and implement a strategy to protect Albertans from specialized municipal taxes directed at homes that are not a primary residence.
Municipal Governance
- Complete work on a universal code of conduct for elected municipal officials and senior municipal staff that strengthens decorum and protects the freedom of speech of elected members, while ensuring an elected member cannot be impeded from fulfilling their duties as an elected representative by their elected colleagues.
- Review and provide recommendations regarding how to strengthen the role of elected municipal officials as the key policy and decision makers and supervisors of unelected municipal officials in municipal governments.
- Conduct a review of compensation and benefits for municipal officials to ensure taxpayer dollars are being respected and compensation levels are commensurate with time commitment and responsibility, including through the establishment of a municipal salary disclosure.
Municipal Autonomy
- Work collaboratively with municipalities to eliminate conflicts between provincial policy and municipal bylaws and policy.
- Review and make recommendations to strengthen Alberta’s municipalities to ensure all Albertans are served by strong viable communities with the appropriate capacity to efficiently and effectively deliver necessary services.
Other
- Maintain and build relationships of trust, partnership, and open dialogue with municipal leaders across the province and bring feedback and solutions from these discussions with municipal leaders to Caucus and Cabinet for timely consideration and action.
- In coordination with the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, who is lead, and the Associate Minister of Water, accelerate the development of an integrated water program that facilitates increased water treatment and distribution for residential, industrial, and agricultural water use across Alberta.
RMA is currently in the process of analyzing the directives and seeking further details from Municipal Affairs. It is important to note that many of the directives are quite broad and open to interpretation. RMA will approach advocacy related to the directives through a lens that prioritizes local autonomy, access to adequate fiscal tools, and role clarity between elected and administrative municipal officials.
RMA will provide members with further information and analysis as it becomes available.
Jared Shaigec
Policy Advisor
825.319.2312
jared@rmalberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@rmalberta.com