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As per the RMA’s Resolution Process policy, an emergent resolution is defined as a resolution submitted to the RMA after the resolution deadline - February 15, 2023 for the 2023 Spring Convention - that addresses a subject or problem that has arisen subsequent to the resolution deadline. The RMA Resolutions Committee will meet prior to the resolution session to determine whether submitted emergent resolutions meet the criteria as “emergent” and are added to the Order Paper.

To accommodate this process, emergent resolutions must be submitted prior to 4:00 pm on Monday, March 20, 2023. Any resolutions not received by this deadline will not be reviewed by the Resolutions Committee.

Emergent resolutions, along with an accompanying letter explaining why the resolution should meet the emergent resolutions criteria, must be submitted in Microsoft Word format to RMA Policy & Research Analyst Emmanuel Chukwuma at emmanuel@RMAlberta.com.

For more details on emergent resolutions, please review section E of the Resolution Process Policy.

Emmanuel Chukwuma
Policy & Research Analyst
587.689.5484
emmanuel@RMAlberta.com   

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

The draft strategic direction will be presented via resolution for member endorsement at the 2023 Spring Convention

The RMA is pleased to release a draft strategic direction document for member consideration. The purpose of the document is to establish an updated vision and mission for the association, as well as values, roles, and strategic priorities that will best position the RMA to continue to serve the needs of its members.

RMA members provided input on the strategic direction at the 2022 Fall Convention and through a member survey, providing valuable insight for consideration. The RMA Board of Directors reviewed all member input and incorporated elements in the draft document, recognizing the need to reflect the RMA’s diverse member offerings and its role as a provider of advocacy and business services.

The RMA Board of Directors will present a resolution to approve and adopt the strategic direction document at the 2023 Spring Convention. If adopted, the strategic direction document will provide the basis for the development for a strategic plan to guide the association for the next four years.

Members interested in providing feedback prior to the 2023 Spring Convention can direct comments to Tasha Blumenthal at tasha@RMAlberta.com by noon on March 15, 2023.  Any input received will be considered by the RMA Board of Directors prior to the resolution session on March 21, 2023.

For more information visit RMAlberta.com.

Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
780.955.4094
tasha@RMAlberta.com   

The report outlines the inequality of the current voting structure and provides an overview of approaches used in other jurisdictions

The RMA has released a report titled Seeking Balance: Voting Inequalities in Alberta’s Growth Management Boards. The report takes a close look at how decisions are currently made within the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board and Calgary Metropolitan Region Board, and how the current provincially-mandated voting structure used in both boards fundamentally disempowers rural growth management board (GMB) members.

The report provides an overview of the origins and history of the voting structure, outlines the implications of the structure for rural GMB members, examines voting structures used by similar regional bodies in other jurisdictions, and considers alternative metrics that could be used to measure the voting strength of GMB members. It also proposes that the following priorities should guide the development of a fairer GMB voting structure:

• GMB member voting strength should be determined based on a combination of member population, area, and infrastructure responsibilities.


• No single GMB member should have the ability to individually pass or veto a motion.


• To maximize equity, the GMB voting structure should utilize a combination of weighted and unweighted voting, similar to the approach used in BC’s regional districts.


• GMB appeals should be sent to an independent third party.


• The scope of decisions subject to member votes under the regional evaluation framework should be reduced.

While the RMA has advocated for the elimination of GMBs in alignment with RMA resolution ER1-19F, if they remain in place in the Edmonton and Calgary regions, it is crucial that the voting and governance structures be redesigned to prioritize equitability among urban and rural members.

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

Following the endorsement of resolutions by RMA members, the RMA forwards the resolutions to the appropriate provincial or federal ministry or organization for an initial response. Based on the response received, the RMA assigns the resolution a status and drafts an initial reaction.

The RMA updates the resolutions database and issues bulletins with updates as responses are received. The RMA has received responses to twelve of the twenty-four resolutions passed at the 2022 Fall Convention, with an additional response to one member resolution passed at the 2022 Spring Convention. Given these responses, the RMA has drafted an initial reaction to the thirteen resolutions.

The government responses, statuses, and the RMA reactions can be viewed for each resolution on the RMA Resolutions Database:

1-22F	Volunteer Firefighters as Medical First Responders
2-22F	Laboratory and X-Ray Technologists Training for Rural Healthcare
3-22F	Provide for a Uniform Method of Auditing and Enforcing Compliance with Community Aggregate Payment Levy Bylaws
4-22F	Well Drilling Equipment Tax Regulation
7-22F	Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework Reform
8-22F	Rural Mental Health Advocacy
12-22F	Restore Grants-in-Lieu of Taxes for Public Housing Management Authorities
16-22F	Exemption of Natural Gas and Propane for Agriculture Under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act
18-22F	Regulations for Motorists Passing School Buses with Amber Lights Flashing
20-22F	Lost Road Closure Files
21-22F	Loss of Agricultural Land to Renewable Energy Projects
24-22F	Improved Crop Insurance for Market Gardens
6-22S	Responsiveness of Service Delivery by Quasi-independent Agencies in Alberta

The RMA plans to release its spring 2023 Advocacy Report Card in the coming months, which will include statuses and reactions to all other fall 2022 resolutions for which a government response is received, as well as status and reaction updates to all other active resolutions.

Emmanuel Chukwuma
Policy & Research Analyst
587.689.5484
emmanuel@RMAlberta.com 

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

CRTC is seeking people to test their internet speeds using a Whitebox

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) launched the third phase of Measuring Broadband Canada. This project is designed to identify areas where internet speeds are not meeting what is being advertised by internet service providers (ISPs). To participate in this project, applicants will need to complete an online registration. After that, they may then be eligible to receive a physical Whitebox that connects to their internet and reports speeds to the CRTC.

This project represents an additional opportunity for rural Albertans to share the challenges of obtaining rural internet with the federal government.

Warren Noga
Policy Advisor
780.955.4079
warren@RMAlberta.com   

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