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Advocacy | 19 Oct 2021 16:36
Register Now for Upcoming Munis 101 Sessions

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Registration is open for fall Munis 101 sessions, and additional sessions in January have been announced

The Elected Officials Education Program (EOEP), in partnership with Alberta Municipal Affairs, is delivering Munis 1010 courses across the province to help municipalities meet Municipal Government Act (MGA) orientation requirements. Although the courses are mainly intended for new and returning councillors, CAOs are encouraged to attend to supplement the topics covered with municipal-specific information. Munis 101 is also the foundational course for the Municipal Elected Leaders Certificate, which the EOEP bestows in partnership with the University of Alberta’s Augustana Extended Education program on councillors who complete all seven EOEP courses.

EOEP is offering Munis 101 through regional sessions across the province, in addition to sessions at AUMA and RMA conventions in November. Based on demand, EOEP is organizing an additional regional session in Blackfalds and a virtual session in January.

Register today for the following sessions:
- Whitecourt at the Whitecourt Baptist Church from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Thursday, November 4, and 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Friday, November 5.
- Grande Prairie at Pomeroy Hotel from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Saturday, November 6, and 8:30 to 11:30 am on Sunday, November 7.
- Bonnyville at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Tuesday, November 9, and 8:30 to 11:30 am on Wednesday, November 10.
- Edmonton, as an AUMA pre-convention session at the Edmonton Convention Centre from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Monday, November 15, and 8:30 to 11:30 am on Tuesday, November 16.
- Edmonton, as an RMA pre-convention session at the Edmonton Expo Centre from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Monday, November 22, and 8:30 am to 12:00 pm on Tuesday, November 23.
- Lethbridge at the Coast Lethbridge Hotel from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Thursday, December 2, and 8:30 to 11:30 am on Friday, December 3.
- Strathmore at the Travelodge Strathmore from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Monday, December 6, and 8:30 to 11:30 am Tuesday, December 7.
- Three Hills at the Three Hills Community Memorial Centre from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Thursday, December 9, and 8:30 to 11:30 am on Friday, December 10.
Registration will open soon for an additional session in Blackfalds along with a virtual offering in January. Registration cost is $375 plus GST.

COVID-19 Protocols

EOEP is offering in-person Munis 101 courses in adherence with Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) requirements. Anyone attending in-person will be required to show one of the following:
- Proof of full vaccination (both vaccination doses must be administered 14 days prior to course date),
- Proof of negative, privately-paid test result within 72 hours of the time and day you are entering the facility, or
- An original medical exemption letter.
Please note, as per the REP requirements, copies of medical exemption letters will not be accepted. It must be the original letter. Results from Alberta Health Services tests are not permissible.

EOEP’s refund policy has been updated to reflect that anyone who is feeling unwell or tests positive for COVID is not to attend. EOEP will also enforce the current mask bylaws in place, which require attendees to be masked unless consuming food or beverage at a table.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and look forward to welcoming you to one of our in-person or virtual offerings.

Warren Noga
Policy Advisor
780.955.4079
warren@RMAlberta.com

Wyatt Skovron
Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com
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10 18 21 Register Now for Upcoming Munis 101 Sessions
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Insurance | 15 Oct 2021 11:02
Preparing and Protecting Properties for Winter

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We all know it’s coming - winter! We know that preparations are required to protect our properties against the elements our cold season brings. Doing preventative and basic maintenance means a lesser chance of a small issue becoming a big disaster during a cold snap or winter storm.

Last winter, two storms in the western provinces caused more than $134 million in insured damages. West of Calgary, a snow squall produced a wind gust of 193 km per hour. Alberta has experienced the most severe weather events since the beginning of 2020 than any other region in Canada.

Your organization can greatly reduce winter weather related property damage and personal injuries with clearly defined polices and maintenance programs. These policies and programs should include checklists and documentation.

Does your organization complete checklists to assist in identifying potential problem areas at properties? Below are a few examples of things to consider in preparation for the unique hazards of our Alberta winter. This list is not exhaustive, but it may help in creating your own checklist for your organization’s properties specific to your area. Some preparations address property loss preventions while others reduce liability hazards that could cause injury to staff and public.
- Have the heating systems such as furnaces and boilers been serviced?
- Have the detectors and alarms been tested to ensure they are working properly?
- Are any sprinkler systems configured for winter conditions?
- Have the arrangements been made for snow removal and salting? Do you have a snow log?
- Have stairs, ramps, footpaths, sidewalks, and parking lots where ice can form been inspected and defects repaired?
- Have the gutters and drains been cleared of leaves, branches, mud, and other debris?
- Are there tree branches around the property that require pruning?
- Are the drainpipes positioned to drain water away from the building’s foundation?
- Is there sufficient insulation around pipes to prevent freezing?
- To protect your roofs from failure, have inspections been carried out on the structural members?
- After a heavy snowfall, does your maintenance program include inspections and roof snow removal?
- Have septic tanks been pumped out?
- Do you have a vacant property that requires special attention during the heating season?
Notably, water damage is one of the most common problems in buildings that do not see regular occupancy. The most important step in protecting the property is to turn off the main water supply to the building and drain all the lines completely. Once the main water supply is turned off, there is only so much water that can escape, which hopefully limits any damage.

Along with checklists, you may want to include a risk register / chart for the risk exposures of each property. A risk registry aids in:
- Identifying potential property and liability risks associated with each property
- Creating solutions to address the identified risk
- Monitoring the effectiveness of the implemented solution
For any questions or more information, please contact our risk management team:

Helene Klassen
Risk Advisor
780.955.4078
helene@RMAinsurance.com

Lacey Barnhard
Risk Advisor
587.671.0108
lacey@RMAinsurance.com
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10 15 21 Preparing and Protecting Properties for Winter
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Advocacy | 15 Oct 2021 10:49
AGLC Releases Report on Charitable Gaming Consultations

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RMA participated in the consultation process, which included discussions on nearly all aspects of the charitable gaming model in Alberta

In early 2021, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) undertook the next phase of a multi-year stakeholder engagement process examining all aspects of Alberta’s charitable gaming system. This examination included the challenges and issues that charitable organizations have communicated to AGLC regarding charitable gaming in Alberta. The engagement process began in 2019 with an online survey and resumed in 2021 with invite-only working groups involving charitable organizations and other relevant stakeholders. RMA was represented in the working groups by District 5 Director Soren Odegard.

Recently, the AGLC released a What We Heard Report outlining the major input emerging from the engagement process. AGLC identified three over-arching themes present throughout the engagement:
- Simplify processes
  - Simplify processes and reporting required by charitable organizations
  - Minimize regulatory burden for charitable organizations by removing outdated policies
- Modernize technology
  - Accept online submissions for applications and financial reporting
  - Introduce an online profile system for licence applications and reporting, as well as live chat and FAQ resources
- Improve communication
  - Improve AGLC communication with stakeholders
  - Demonstrate the value of charitable gaming by reporting the impact of the charitable sector to the public
Changes to Casino Boundaries and Revenue Distribution

RMA’s advocacy priority related to charitable gaming focuses on the need for current casino boundaries and revenue distribution models to be modernized. The current distribution model is inequitable and unfair to rural-based charitable organizations. Based on resolution 13-17F: AAMDC Advisory Committee to Support the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission in Reviewing Charitable Gaming in Alberta, RMA formed a member committee on this issue in 2018, and released a report outlining the issue and providing several principles and recommendations as to how casino revenues could be more equitably distributed. This report formed the basis of RMA’s involvement in the recent AGLC review.

Unfortunately, the What We Heard Report does not focus on any significant changes to the casino boundaries and revenue distribution model, although it does include a section outlining discussions in this area (beginning on page 35).

Next Steps

Based on the engagement outcomes, AGLC plans to develop recommendations on how to improve the charitable gaming model, which will be reviewed by the AGLC Board of Directors and shared publicly. RMA plans to follow up with AGLC to emphasize the need for more detailed engagement on the specific issue of casino boundaries and revenue distribution.

Wyatt Skovron
Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com
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10 15 21 AGLC Releases Report on Charitable Gaming Consultations
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Advocacy | 14 Oct 2021 15:09
Government of Alberta No Longer Considering Privatization of Land Title Services

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After considering the possibility of outsourcing of select land title, corporate and personal properties registry services through a long-term agreement with the private sector, Service Alberta plans to maintain the status quo

In early 2021, the Government of Alberta issued a request for expressions of interest (RFEOI) from parties interested in entering into a 35-year agreement to “modernize, operate and maintain the Province's Land Titles, Corporate and Personal Property Registries”.

RMA, members, and other organizations expressed concern about the Government of Alberta’s consideration of privatizing land titles and related registry services. The service provides the Government of Alberta with a stable and significant source of revenue, which would be compromised through privatization. Privatization of similar services in other jurisdictions resulted in higher fees for service users, and privatization of the service may have impacted the ability of municipalities to access certain land title and related information needed for planning and other municipal purposes.

On October 14, 2021, Service Alberta informed RMA that after evaluating responses to the RFEOI process, the proposed 35-year agreement with the private sector has been deemed to not be the best approach at this time. Instead, Service Alberta will explore other efforts to modernize registry services to support the delivery of a more efficient and cost-effective digital government. RMA is pleased by the decision to maintain the status quo and will expect any future changes to land titles and other registry services to be based on meaningful engagement with service users and providers, including municipalities.

Warren Noga
Policy Advisor
780.955.4079
warren@RMAlberta.com

Wyatt Skovron
Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com

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10 14 21 Government of Alberta No Longer Considering Privatization of Land Title Services
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Advocacy | 14 Oct 2021 14:53
RMA Continuing to Seek Answers and Advocate on RCMP Contract

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With the Government of Canada-National Police Federation collective agreement finalized, RMA is advocating to both levels of government that municipalities not be responsible for retroactive pay increases in the agreement

The collective agreement between the Government of Canada and the National Police Federation has been finalized. The agreement will result in a pay increase for the more than 19,000 regular RCMP service members. The implementation of this agreement includes significant retroactive pay. In Alberta, the cost of this agreement for services provided in municipalities covered by the provincial police service agreement (PPSA) has been previously estimated at approximately $80 million. RMA is still awaiting details from the RCMP and other levels of government on the actual costs based on the terms of the finalized agreement.

As the new police funding model passes some costs of policing onto PPSA municipalities, it is unclear how this retroactive pay will be funded. RMA is advocating to both the provincial and federal government that the responsibility must not be passed on to municipalities in the form of increased municipal costs or reduced service levels, especially since municipalities did not have a seat at the negotiating table.

RMA has taken the position that because the federal government negotiated and signed the agreement, it should be their responsibility to handle the cost associated with retroactive pay. RMA encourages members to also take this position when engaging with their MLAs and MPs.

RMA will connect with members as more information is learned about how this agreement will be implemented.

Warren Noga
Policy Advisor
780.955.4079
warren@RMAlberta.com

Wyatt Skovron
Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com

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10 08 21 RMA Continuing to Seek Answers and Advocate on RCMP Contract
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Advocacy | 08 Oct 2021 12:37
Register for Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta’s Upcoming Virtual Workshop

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Register for the next IAMA workshop and learn about how asset management can support municipalities in preparing for and mitigating the impacts of climate change

Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta (IAMA) is hosting a virtual workshop on October 13 and 14, 2021. Each day, virtual programming will run from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and include an opportunity for networking.

The workshop agenda will feature presentations on several topics, including:
- Aligning asset management in the context climate change and operating costs – City of Spruce Grove.
- Level of service for urban woodlands – City of London, Ontario.
- Aligning asset management with climate change adaptation – Public Sector Digest.
Workshop registration is $100, although the rate is discounted to $75 with the purchase of an IAMA annual membership.

Who Should Attend?

The workshop is open to anyone interested in building their asset management knowledge. In particular, IAMA encourages attendance by:
- Councillors
- CAOs
- Directors of Finance
- Directors of Operations
- Anyone involved in delivering services or managing infrastructure
- Anyone seeking an answer to the following:
  - What is asset management?
  - How much does our infrastructure really cost?
Wyatt Skovron
Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com
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10 08 21 Register for Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta’s Upcoming Virtual Workshop
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LATEST NEWS

Register Now for Upcoming Munis 101 Sessions

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Preparing and Protecting Properties for Winter

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AGLC Releases Report on Charitable Gaming Consultations

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Government of Alberta No Longer Considering Privatization of Land Title Services

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RMA Continuing to Seek Answers and Advocate on RCMP Contract

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Register for Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta’s Upcoming Virtual Workshop

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