With the amended Municipal Government Act (MGA) now in force, the clock has begun ticking for a number of important MGA requirements such as council codes of conduct, financial planning, and intermunicipal collaborative frameworks. To assist municipalities in this transition, Alberta Municipal Affairs, in partnership with the AAMDC and the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) are in the process of developing resources and tools.
The first series of resources developed by Alberta Municipal Affairs to assist municipalities in transitioning to the new MGA are available here. The following are some highlights of those tools:
- MGA Legislative Checklist:
An important resource for municipalities is the MGA Legislative Checklist found here. It indicates the changes that have been made to the MGA and what key dates actions need to be taken by to be in compliance with the act. - MGA Implementation Fact Sheets:
Implementation Fact Sheets are one to two page briefs on the different changes to the MGA. They highlight the changes that are required to be completed, key dates and regulations, and additional sources of information to assist municipalities. They cover a wide range of topics in the areas of governance, planning, and taxation and assessment. - Council Member Handbook:
A new resource developed by Alberta Municipal Affairs is What Every Councillor Needs to Know!: A Council Member Handbook. This handbook presents an overview of your responsibilities as a municipal councillor and is intended to help you to understand the powers and duties of a municipal council as a whole and you as an individual councillor. It highlights a number of important things that you will need to know as a new or returning councillor, especially with regard to the amended changes to the MGA.
In addition to the resources recently made available, there are a number of other tools and resources currently underway by the AAMDC and the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. These will be communicated to AAMDC members when they are available.
Enquiries may be directed to:
Matt Dow
Policy Analyst
780.955.4085
Kim Heyman
Director, Advocacy & Communications
780.955.4079