To improve reporting on resolution advocacy, 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 May 2026 edition of the Monthly Resolution Update Bulletin features the following resolutions:
Resolution 8-26S Equitable Electricity Distribution Pricing Model
RMA members are calling on the Government of Alberta (GOA) to establish an equitable electricity distribution pricing model that eliminates the significant regional disparities faced by rural and remote customers. Under the current system, distribution charges – set through Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) processes that emphasize density, line length, and service‑area characteristics – can account for anywhere from 22% to 70% of a rural resident’s electricity bill. These variations create structural inequities based solely on geography, placing rural municipalities, residents, and businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
Other provinces avoid these disparities through province-wide pooling of costs and standardizing distribution rates. Saskatchewan has maintained a single distribution rate since 1949, and BC Hydro equalizes transmission and distribution costs across 95% of British Columbia. Following these examples, the GOA could establish a clear provincial mandate stating that comparable customers should not face dramatically different distribution charges based solely on where they live. Such a mandate would recognize Alberta’s grid as a shared provincial asset and help create a more level playing field for residents and businesses across the province.
RMA continues to explore policy and regulatory pathways that would support a fair, province-wide approach to distribution pricing. Moving forward, the GOA should pair a clear policy direction with a focused review of distribution rate design and coordinated work with the AUC, Alberta Electric System Operator, Utilities Consumer Advocate, RMA, and distribution companies. These steps would ensure Alberta’s distribution system reflects the reality of a shared provincial network and that rural residents and businesses are not disproportionately burdened by essential electricity costs.
Resolution 7-23F: Strategy for Management of Wildland Fires Outside Forest Protection Area
In Fall 2023, RMA members endorsed resolution 7-23F, which advocates for the formation of a multi-stakeholder working group, to develop a collaborative long term wildfire management strategy outside the Forest Protection Area (FPA). In response, the RMA formed the Wildfire Working Group (WWG) in early 2024 consisting of stakeholders from municipalities (Brazeau County, Leduc County, Parkland County and Westlock County) ABmunis, government agencies and ministries such as Forestry and Parks, Environment and Protected Areas, and the Forest Products Association and emergency response organizations (Alberta Emergency Management Agency and the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association).
Government responses to resolution 7-23F and to the recommendations made in the WWG’s final report have indicated an acknowledgement of the issues presented in the resolution and a willingness to jointly develop improved wildfire mitigation frameworks. RMA has also been participating in the Provincial Fire Liaison Committee (PFLC). This committee is led by Municipal Affairs and includes representatives from a variety of stakeholders across municipalities, fire service organizations and indigenous communities. The goal and mandate of the PFLC is to collaboratively work towards improved fire and wildfire management practices across the province. Through this work, RMA has had discussions with the PFLC working group regarding levels of service, personnel recruitment and retention, and education. RMA intends to use its membership on this committee to continue actioning the requests of this resolution and the recommendations of the WWG report to help develop improved wildfire planning and response frameworks for non-FPA rural municipalities.
Support for Agritourism in Alberta
Resolutions 8-23S: Provincial Review of Agribusiness and Agritourism and 9-26S: Access to Liability Insurance for Agritourism Operators call on the provincial government to provide more support for Alberta agritourism. Agritourism, a growing industry in rural Alberta, is attracting investment and can play a key role in strengthening local economies. Agritourism presents an opportunity for economic diversification and an avenue to share agricultural goods, education, and experiences with the public. Despite likely benefits, growth in the agritourism industry faces limits to continued growth. Factors such as the municipal approvals process and prohibitively expensive provincial building code upgrades to farm buildings can prevent new agritourism businesses from getting off the ground. Those already running an agritourism business may face difficulty purchasing insurance for commercial purposes. This can leave operators with no choice but to continue operating without liability insurance, exposing them to considerable financial risk. In other cases, buying liability insurance may lead to operators’ full farm, auto, or home insurance policies to be cancelled without notice.
To address these constraints, RMA formed a working group to advise on a provincial agritourism strategy. The group is composed of stakeholders from RMA, Alberta Tourism and Sport, the Alberta Agritourism Association, and several RMA members. Members of the working group heard presentations from delegates covering a variety of topics, including options for liability insurance, food safety regulations, promising practices from Indigenous Tourism Alberta, legislative interventions from Ontario, and building code considerations for agritourism operators.
These learnings will inform the core themes of the agritourism strategy. RMA expects to release a final report with key recommendations on the enhancement of agritourism later in 2026.
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.