Read RMA’s full submission to Alberta’s Fair Deal Panel
RMA has submitted input to the Fair Deal Panel, which has been an initiative by the Government of Alberta to consult with Albertans on measures to secure a fair deal from the federal government for the province. The Fair Deal Panel is exploring nine specific areas:
- Establishing a provincial revenue agency to collect provincial taxes directly by ending the Canada-Alberta Tax Collection Agreement, while joining Quebec in seeking an agreement to collect federal taxes within the province
- Creating an Alberta Pension Plan by withdrawing from the Canada Pension Plan
- Establishing a provincial police force be ending the Alberta Police Service Agreement with the Government of Canada
- Emulating Quebec’s practice of playing a larger role in international relations, in part by seeking Alberta representation in treaty negotiations that effect Alberta’s interests
- Emulating Quebec’s legal requirement that public bodies, including municipalities and school boards, obtain the approval of the provincial government before they can enter into agreements with the federal government
- Using the existing provincial power to appoint the Chief of Firearms Office for Alberta
- Opting out of the federal cost share programs with full compensation, such as the federal government’s proposed pharmacare program
- Seeking an exchange of tax points for federal cash transfers under the Canada Health and Social Transfers
- Establishing a formalized provincial consultation
Some of the proposals being considered by the Fair Deal Panel are outside the scope of relevance for rural municipalities, but RMA has provided feedback on three of the areas:
Establishing a provincial police force by ending the Alberta Police Service Agreement with the Government of Canada.
The emphasis of RMA’s submission on this area was to receive information on how the establishment of a provincial police force would improve public safety in rural areas, given that ending the Alberta Police Service Agreement would presumably result in a reduction or elimination of the federal financial contribution to policing in Alberta.
Emulating Quebec’s legal requirement that public bodies, including municipalities and school boards, obtain the approval of the provincial government before they can enter into agreements with the federal government.
RMA does not support this proposal as increased oversight will limit municipal access to federal funding as a result of increased administrative delays and create additional red tape for both municipalities and the province. This proposal also negatively impacts municipal autonomy.
Opting out of the federal cost share programs with full compensation, such as the federal government’s proposed pharmacare program.
RMA stated concern surrounding the impacts that this proposal may have on federal funding programs that require projects to be cost-shared among federal, provincial and municipal levels of government (such as the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program), or that rely on federal funding to “flow through” the province to municipalities (such as the Gas Tax Fund).
Click here to read RMA’s full submission to the Fair Deal Panel.
RMA encourages members to share their thoughts with the Fair Deal Panel, who have extended their consultation timelines into February. Click here to submit feedback.
For enquiries, please contact:
Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com