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 June 2025 edition of the Monthly Resolution Update Bulletin features the following resolutions:
Resolution 2-23F Amendments to the Municipal Government Act – Section 619 Governance and Infrastructure
Resolution 2-23F sought from the GOA a rearrangement of priority and authority regarding certain industrial developments within municipal boundaries. This resolutions seeks to require entities such as the National Resources Conservation Board (NRCB), the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), and the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to account for municipal land use planning bylaws when assessing and authorizing projects – a step that remains unnecessary under s. 619 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
In 2023, Municipal Affairs stated that regulatory entities were “encouraged” to consult with municipalities. However, there was no demonstrable intent to make regulators’ decisions regarding licenses, permits, approvals, and other regulatory compliance documents consistent with municipal statutory land use planning.
The act of encouraging – rather than legislating – consultation with municipalities with an adherence to municipalities’ statutory land use planning documents remains an insufficient policy approach, especially when projects or licenses granted by quasi-judicial agencies have significant local impacts without guaranteed local benefits.
Though, in a promising note, the GOA released the Electric Energy Land Use and Visual Assessment Regulation, Alta Reg 203/2024 (EELUVAR) in December 2024. The EELUVAR created new application and reporting requirements – including accounting for land use planning and conflict management – for renewable energy and agricultural developments in certain circumstances. While this was an encouraging step in the right direction, it fell short of the full requirements of this resolution.
Recently, the AUC delivered to RMA the draft blackline for Rule 007: Facility Application [Rule 007] seeking recommendations on the proposed changes. Rule 007 sets out the requirements for the construction, alteration, operation, and discontinuation, dismantling, and removal of power plants, transmission lines, industrial systems, hydro developments, gas utility pipelines, and renewable developments. Section 619 of the MGA legislates that Rule 007 supersedes municipal bylaws, including land use, zoning, and municipal planning. The proposed changes, then, were a great insight into the direction the GOA is planning to take regarding municipal input on proposed projects.
RMA released an analysis of all the changes proposed in the blackline. While some changes align with RMAs advocacy on the municipal role in the regulatory approval process, many changes fail to address significant concerns related to municipal planning bylaws and documents. While RMA will continue to advocate for such changes, RMA recommends that members provide input calling for major changes to be made to the process in a manner that better recognizes municipalities as unique stakeholders.
Resolution 16-23S: Applied Research Associations Funding
Applied Research Associations (ARA) are non-profit organizations that generate locally specific and unbiased agricultural research. The outcomes of ARA research projects help agricultural producers increase crop yields, minimize pests, respond to agricultural crises and more. These organizations are not only research hubs but also provide capacity-building resources by enabling learning opportunities, facilitating partnerships between community members and stakeholders, and help drive innovation in the agricultural sector.
ARAs have encountered significant reductions in funding over the years, hindering their ability to cover expenses and ultimately carry out the research work relied upon by rural Alberta farmers. Although the Results Driven Agriculture Research organization exists as a funding source, this funding is only allocated towards research projects and not towards other expenses such as building maintenance or equipment related expenses. For these reasons, resolution 16-23S advocates for increased and sustainable operational funding for ARAs to help support the agricultural sector.
RMA believes that municipalities are best suited and equipped to make the decisions that impact their local communities, residents and businesses the most. ARAs are a valued resource that help provide decision-makers with the necessary insights and data to enact policies that support the province’s agricultural industry, promote municipal viability and sustain economic development.
Recently, the Government of Alberta announced a one-time grant of $3.2 million to invest in agri-research through the twelve ARAs. RMA will continue to advocate for adequate and sustained funding for Applied Research Associations in Alberta.
Rural Affordable Housing
Affordable housing continues to be an important advocacy issue for RMA members as identified in the following resolutions:
- Resolution 4-23F: Provincial Downloading of Operating Costs for Deteriorating Provincially Owned Housing
- Resolution 9-23F: Review of Affordable Housing Funding Programs
- Resolution 15-23S: Capital Funding Support for Housing Management Bodies
- Resolution 12-22F: Restore Grants-in-Lieu of Taxes for Public Housing Management Authorities
These resolutions call for the Government of Alberta (GOA) to:
- increase capital funding to Housing Management Boards (HMBs) so that municipalities do not have to make financial contributions to affordable housing outside of their legislated contribution to the operating costs of seniors’ lodges, which subsequently increases municipal taxes for ratepayers
- review the Affordable Housing Partnership Program (AHPP) to ensure the application is transparent and does not require an unreasonable municipal investment to apply
- continue to increase support for the Rent Assistance Benefit program
- reinstate grants-in-lieu of taxes for affordable housing units
RMAs approach to advocating for affordable rural housing and GOA support for municipalities’ legislated role in funding and governing seniors lodges considers each of these points. RMA developed a two-part affordable housing member survey to cover the diversity and range of issues presented. Part one was released in April 2025 and closed May 2025. It explored rural municipal financial and governance contributions to affordable housing, member perceptions of the condition of these housing units, applications to the AHPP and losses from grants-in-lieu of taxes. Part two will be released in coming months. The survey will explore rural municipalities’ working relationship with the HMB that they financially contribute to. RMA will share the survey findings in an advocacy report. Please reach out to share your local affordable housing wins and challenges and stay tuned for part two of the survey.
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