Members are encouraged to review new compensation disclosure requirements and begin preparing for public reporting obligations ahead of the 2027 implementation date.
Municipal Affairs is reminding municipalities of upcoming employee compensation disclosure requirements that were introduced through the Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 (formerly Bill 28). Under section 215.2 of the Municipal Government Act, municipalities must, on or before June 30 of each year commencing in 2027, publish specified information on their websites for employees whose compensation exceeds the prescribed threshold. The first disclosure will therefore be due by June 30, 2027, and will report compensation information from the 2026 calendar year.
Municipal Affairs has advised that it has received numerous inquiries regarding implementation of the new requirements. To help address common questions, the ministry has developed a fact sheet outlining key information, including:
- Employee compensation disclosure requirements;
- Applicable compensation thresholds; and
- Municipal reporting and public disclosure obligations.
You can access the fact sheet here.
Municipal Affairs continues to work through several implementation details, including establishing a process that would allow municipalities to request exemptions in circumstances where disclosure may unduly threaten an employee’s safety. RMA will look to keep members informed as additional guidance and information is provided by Municipal Affairs.
Municipalities with questions are encouraged to contact the Municipal Affairs Municipal Advisory Team at ma.advisory@gov.ab.ca.
RMA Analysis
RMA has previously noted that the amendments expand provincial oversight of municipal employment practices and may create additional administrative and financial obligations for municipalities, including reporting, compliance, and audit-related requirements. These impacts may be particularly significant for smaller and rural municipalities with limited administrative and/or financial capacity.
RMA has also raised concerns regarding the potential privacy, recruitment, and retention implications of expanded compensation disclosure requirements, particularly in municipalities that already face challenges attracting and retaining qualified staff.
Members interested in more detailed analyses of the legislation can review RMA’s Bill 28 Analysis and Rural Municipal Impact Analysis documents.
For more information, contact RMA’s Policy and Advocacy Team at advocacy@rmalberta.com or 825.319.2383