LATEST NEWS

Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute is seeking input to ensure the Biodiversity Browser better fits wetland stakeholder needs

In 2017, the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI) released the Biodiversity Browser (BB) as an encyclopedia of life for Alberta plant and wildlife species. The BB has been used to broadly share ABMI data and information on Alberta species to support decision making by land-use managers and policy makers in the province. ABMI, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, is seeking input from stakeholders to help revamp the BB to ensure it better fits wetland stakeholders needs.

To provide feedback on the BB, please complete the Biodiversity Browser User Survey.

The deadline to complete the survey is June 15, 2020.

If you have any questions about the survey or BB, please email Jenet Dooley at dooley@ualberta.ca.

For enquiries, please contact:

Alex Mochid
Policy Advisor
alex@RMAlberta.com

Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com

Alberta Biz Connect is a helpful hub for both municipalities and local businesses to access information on how to re-open safely

As Alberta continues its gradual relaunch process, information on re-opening for different sectors and business types is available on the Alberta Biz Connect website.

Municipal playgrounds are now permitted to be re-opened (at the discretion of municipalities) and RMA encourages members to access the Guidance for Playgrounds document for information on how to mitigate risks of re-opening playgrounds. The Alberta Biz connect website also includes guidance on re-opening other services and sites that may be operated by municipalities, including:

• Dog parks


• Golf courses


• Homeless shelters


• Campgrounds


• Day camps


• Interpretive attractions


• Museums


• Outdoor recreation

In addition to re-opening guidelines on Alberta Biz Connect, Alberta Municipal Affairs continues to provide regular updates on municipal-specific changes related to COVID-19.

For enquiries, please contact:

Wyatt Skovron
Senior Policy Advisor
wyatt@RMAlberta.com

Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com

Transport Canada is offering an information session with road authorities

Transport Canada (TC) will be providing additional information sessions in order to share information with road authorities, including municipalities, on some of the key points to consider when applying for funding under the Rail Safety Improvement Program (RSIP).  While the key focus of these sessions will be the RSIP, TC will also touch on points of interest on the requirements of the Rail Safety Grade Crossings Regulations (GCR) that will be required by November 28, 2021.

You are invited to attend one of two teleconference / WebEx information sessions from Transport Canada on the RSIP and the GCR. The two sessions are scheduled as follows:

• English session on June 23 from 12:30 to 2:00 pm


• French session on June 25 from 8:30 to 10:00 am

Please register for one of the sessions by emailing Parvina.Ramsahok@tc.gc.ca and TC will send you a WebEx confirmation with instructions for that session. Attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis and with a maximum of 40 participants per session. Reservations are anticipated to fill up quickly.

If you have any questions on the Rail Safety Improvement Program, please email TC at tc.rsipitr-pasfitr.tc@tc.gc.ca.

For enquiries, please contact:

Warren Noga
Policy Advisor
warren@RMAlberta.com

Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com

The FCM MAMP program is now accepting applications for grants of up to $50,000 to support municipalities in building asset management capacity

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP) is now accepting applications from municipalities for grants to support the development of asset management capacity. This round of funding builds on the last round of MAMP direct grant funding in 2018.

Grants can be used for a wide variety of asset management initiatives to help municipalities make informed decisions about operating, maintaining, and replacing infrastructure such as roads, buildings, water supply, and sanitation systems.

More information and application instructions are available on the FCM MAMP website.

There is no deadline to apply, but the call for applications will close when all funding has been allocated.

For enquiries, please contact:

Wyatt Skovron
Senior Policy Advisor
wyatt@RMAlberta.com

Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com

Alberta Environment and Parks is hosting two educational webinars to review the Proposed Disturbance Standard under the Public Lands Administration Regulation

Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) is in the process of establishing a disturbance standard under the Public Lands Administration Regulation (PLAR). The purpose is to better manage the placement of temporary seasonal docks and associated structures on the beds and shores of Crown-owned water bodies that are subject to the Public Lands Act.

The proposed disturbance standard is intended to improve the regulatory oversight over the use of docks as well as streamline the administrative process for waterfront holders, semi-waterfront holders, and municipal waterfront holders by eliminating the requirement to apply for an authorization.

AEP has provided the following information about the proposed disturbance standard:

• An Overview


• Draft Disturbance Standard for Temporary Seasonal Docks for Recreational Purposes


• Fact Sheet on the Draft Disturbance Standard


• Infographic on the Proposed Personal Mooring Allowance

AEP is inviting stakeholders to review the information above and attend one of two educational webinars to review the proposed disturbance standard and provide an opportunity to ask any questions based on the documents provided.

Stakeholder Webinar #1

• Wednesday May 20 at 1:30 pm


• Register for Stakeholder Webinar #1

Stakeholder Webinar #2

• Thursday, May 21 at 9:30 am


• Register for Stakeholder Webinar #2

If you are not able to attend either of these webinars but would like to provide feedback on the disturbance standard, please contact Gerry Haekel at AEP.Info-Centre@gov.ab.ca.

For enquiries, please contact:

Alex Mochid
Policy Advisor
alex@RMAlberta.com

Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com

RMA, AUMA, and the Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention (APCCP) were pleased to host a series of educational webinars on using policy to support community health and well-being in recent months.

The fourth and final webinar in the series, Food Matters! How Municipalities Can Build a Stronger Community Through Healthier Eating Environments, took place on Friday, May 8, with the following speakers:

• Kayla Atkey, Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention


• Kim Raine, School of Public Health, University of Alberta


• Pam Boyson, Registered Dietitian, Alberta Health Services

The webinar recording and slides are now available.

For enquiries, please contact:

Warren Noga
Policy Advisor
warren@RMAlberta.com

Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com