To improve reporting on resolution advocacy, the RMA is releasing a monthly bulletin highlighting recent 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 August 2026 edition of the Monthly Resolution Update Bulletin features the following resolutions:
Resolution 2-26S: Changes to Provincial Bridge and Culvert Classification
Resolution 2-26S calls on the Government of Alberta (GOA) to take two linked actions essential to municipal infrastructure sustainability: review and amend Alberta’s bridge definition to ensure culverts and bridges are appropriately classified, and investigate cost‑effective bridge replacement and maintenance options to support municipalities. Rural municipalities continue to face escalating infrastructure pressures as the factors driving the infrastructure deficit grow. Identifying viable solutions to reduce costs in one of the most expensive asset categories for rural communities is critical.
In July, RMA released Resolution Report: 2-26S, outlining the challenges addressed by the resolution, current best practices, and the ideal conditions needed to operationalize its core elements. The report identified three key calls to action: (a) developing a provincial framework for municipal risk‑tolerance, (b) establishing a provincial catalogue of approved cost‑effective bridge solutions, and (c) clarifying the relationship between ministerial standards and municipal funding eligibility. This report was shared publicly and provided to the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC) for review and comment.
The GOA and TEC have since indicated support for advancing this work. RMA and TEC representatives have engaged in multiple discussions regarding updates to bridge classification and funding allocation systems. These conversations include promising developments related to regulatory clarity, increased local flexibility, and commitments to exploring new methodologies aimed at reducing bridge repair and replacement costs.
While these efforts do not guarantee imminent increases in provincial funding, nor immediate relief for municipalities, the ongoing optimization of the regulatory environment governing bridge repair and replacement is encouraging. The inclusion of rural municipal perspectives – alongside engineers and contractors – signals meaningful progress toward more efficient, low cost, and appropriate long‑term solutions. RMA will continue to update members and the public as further information becomes available and additional actions take shape.
Resolution 6-26S: Municipal Involvement in Regulatory Processes
Resolution 6-26S highlights the still-present issues surrounding municipal involvement in quasi-judicial regulatory processes. Although there have been some developments since issues were first raised in 2023, municipalities still face limitations in their ability to have concerns be heard and have municipal development plans be meaningfully considered throughout regulatory decisions.
In 2023, RMA formed the Quasi-Judicial Agencies Member Committee (QJAC) following rural municipal concerns that approval and engagement processes led by these agencies do not adequately consider municipal development plans, needs or issues.
RMA is currently conducting a comprehensive review of QJAC recommendation implementation since 2023. The purpose of this report will be to comparatively assess how the quasi-judicial agencies have updated their regulatory frameworks, engagement approaches and approval processes in response to the QJAC recommendations. RMA has found that despite some changes and improvements made by quasi-judicial agencies, municipalities still experience overall barriers with regard to notification processes and transparency of information related to hearings and decisions made. The update to the original QJAC report is set for release in late 2026.
Resolution ER1-24S: Government Support for Physician Assistants
RMA calls on the Government of Alberta to improve access to healthcare in rural communities by supporting training, recruitment, and retention of Physician Assistants.
Physician Assistants are healthcare professionals who can provide care in a team-based healthcare environment that supports integrated health management and reduces workloads for physicians.
Healthcare access in rural communities is an ongoing concern. Physician assistants are educated with flexibility in mind, and as such, do not have a defined scope of practice. This enables physician assistants to adapt to the needs of a given clinic or community and can provide a wide range of highly specialized services (apart from major surgery). Physician assistants must practice under the supervision of a physician, but that does not mean that a physician must be on-site: a physician assistant may be supervised from anywhere in Alberta provided a physician is available by phone for consultation on an as-needed basis, greatly enhancing the flexibility of their practice and ability to provide care in rural communities.
Recently, the Government of Alberta announced another round of funding through the Rural Team Recruitment Grant to support rural clinics in growing their care teams. This grant stream provides up to 50% of a salary, up to $72,500, in rural communities and can include physician assistants. In addition to funding for existing physician assistants, funding was allocated through 2027 to add 20 new positions per year to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Calgary.
RMA supports these funding streams and is advocating for this funding to be made available in the long-term; RMA will continue to advocate for continued funding of Physician Assistants, both in terms of education and salary support for rural clinics.
Stay tuned for future editions of the Monthly Resolution Update Bulletin, where we will continue to feature updates on selected resolutions.
For more information, contact RMA’s Policy and Advocacy Team at advocacy@rmalberta.com or 825.319.2383.