AUC to Consult Municipalities on Renewable Energy Setback Distances
In February 2024, the Minister of Affordability and Utilities requested that the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) pursue standardized setbacks for renewable infrastructure in the province. In response, the AUC consulted on appropriate setbacks from residences and other important infrastructure as part of the Rule 007: Facility Applications review. RMA provided input that setbacks are established locally, and should remain at the discretion of municipalities. The revised […]
New Year, Same Threat: Lessons from the PowerSchool Cyber Breach
What Happened in the PowerSchool Breach In December 2024, the educational software company PowerSchool experienced a significant cyber attack, which became known on December 28. An unauthorized person accessed personal information through their customer support portal, PowerSource. This breach impacted up to 62 million people, including students, teachers, and parents in 1,243 U.S. school districts […]
RMA’s “Closing the Gap” Campaign Seeks to Partner with Government to Support Rural Infrastructure
NISKU, ALBERTA, January 15, 2026 – The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) has launched Closing the Gap: The Rural Infrastructure Funding Deficit, a five‑week public awareness and advocacy campaign intended to highlight and propose solutions to Alberta’s growing rural infrastructure deficit. The campaign explains the scale of the challenge, proposes practical solutions, and calls for […]
RMA Releases “Closing the Gap” Infrastructure Funding Advocacy Campaign
Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) members maintain a vast infrastructure network that provides services to rural residents and the industries that drive Alberta. Over the last decade, the condition of rural road, bridge, and utility infrastructure has steadily declined due to chronic provincial underfunding and municipal budgets becoming increasingly constrained as a result of downloaded costs and services. To better understand […]
RMA’s Annual Unpaid Oil & Gas Tax Survey Now Open
RMA requests member input to ensure accurate tracking of unpaid taxes. RMA’s annual unpaid oil and gas tax survey is now open. The survey provides essential, member‑driven data that strengthens RMA’s advocacy on the ongoing issue of unpaid oil and gas property taxes and helps illustrate the real financial impacts facing rural municipalities. Unpaid taxes continue to create […]
RMA Submits Input into Budget 2026
RMA’s input focuses on rural funding priorities across four key themes. The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) has submitted input to the Government of Alberta as part of the Budget 2026 consultation process. RMA continues its long‑standing commitment to ensuring that rural perspectives are reflected in provincial budget decisions. As rural municipalities carry unique responsibilities across large geographic areas and play a […]
Environment and Climate Change Canada Releases Landfill Methane Regulations
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) have released the final Landfill Methane Regulations (LMR), published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on December 31, 2025. These regulations aim to reduce methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills. Landfills Required to Meet the New Requirements The regulations apply only to large landfills that: Not included: Mandatory Methane Generation Assessments Every regulated landfill must use ECCC’s Landfill Methane […]
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Issuing New Codes for the Conservation of Fish and Fish Habitat
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has released one new Standard, four new Codes of Practice, and updates its six existing Codes of Practice for the guidance on municipal projects taking place in or near water. These standards provide a framework on how to carry out routine work near water while reducing impacts on fish and fish habitat. A Standard provides guidance on how to design implement, maintain, monitor and remove specific […]
Creating an AI Policy for Municipalities
As our world evolves to include the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is crucial that municipalities have a framework for the ethical, transparent, and effective use of AI. AI can help increase efficiency by automating routine tasks. It can also enhance service quality and speed using chatbots. There are also many risks – data privacy, legal […]
New Police Funding Model Introduced
The new PFM makes several notable changes to the existing formula. The Police Funding Model (PFM) was implemented in April 2020 and redistributes a portion of frontline policing costs from the Government of Alberta (GOA) to municipalities that receive policing services through the Provincial Police Service Agreement (PPSA). The PFM is set to expire on March 31, […]