LATEST NEWS

Do you want your community to be recognized as a sustainability leader? Nominate your municipality for FCM’s 2018 Sustainable Communities Awards! The awards celebrate the most innovative local sustainability projects from across the country in the following categories:

• Asset management


• Brownfields


• Climate change


• Energy


• Sustainable neighbourhood revitalization and design


• Transportation


• Waste


• Water

Communities do not need to be members of FCM or have received funding from FCM in order to be eligible. Eligible initiatives must be started or completed between January 1, 2016 and September 15, 2017.

Award winners receive local and national recognition and promotion for their initiatives, and the opportunity to present at FCM’s Sustainable Communities Conference. Learn more and apply by September 15, 2017.

Enquiries may be directed to:

Tasha Blumenthal
Policy Analyst
780.955.4094

Kim Heyman
Director, Advocacy & Communications
780.955.4079

The AAMDC is seeking member representation on the Plumbing Sub-Council of the Safety Codes Council. The AAMDC is seeking up to two nominees that will be forwarded for consideration by the Safety Codes Council. Members who would like to be nominated for this council should be experts in the respective discipline and actively engaged in the safety codes system.

In your application or nomination, please provide a brief profile that lists your background, experience, and contact information.

Please note, the positions can go to either elected or non-elected members of your municipality.

Within their disciplines, the technical sub-councils are responsible for the following:

• Reviewing, formulating, and recommending safety codes, standards and principles of barrier free design and access;


• Establishing competency requirements for Safety Codes Officers;


• Developing standards and compliance monitoring criteria for accredited organizations;


• Assessing the effectiveness and quality of Safety Codes Officers’ training courses; and


• Hearing and deciding appeals of orders and written notices.

As these are volunteer positions, members are not paid but the Safety Codes Council will reimburse its members for all expenses incurred. Per diems are paid for by the nominating municipality. Please see the attached job description for details by clicking here.

The Council is an equal opportunity organization and values diversity of all kinds.

For more information about the Safety Codes Council, please visit www.safetycodes.ab.ca.

Please forward your nominations to AAMDC Policy Analyst, Matt Dow at matt.dow@aamdc.com by July 31, 2017.

Enquiries may be directed to:

Matt Dow
Policy Analyst
780.955.4085

Kim Heyman
Director, Advocacy & Communications
780.955.4079

The AAMDC is seeking member representation on the Building Sub-Council of the Safety Codes Council. The AAMDC is seeking up to two nominees that will be forwarded for consideration by the Safety Codes Council. Members who would like to be nominated for this council should be experts in the respective discipline and actively engaged in the safety codes system.

In your application or nomination, please provide a brief profile that lists your background, experience, and contact information.

Please note, the positions can go to either elected or non-elected members of your municipality.

Within their disciplines, the technical sub-councils are responsible for the following:

• Reviewing, formulating, and recommending safety codes, standards and principles of barrier free design and access;


• Establishing competency requirements for Safety Codes Officers;


• Developing standards and compliance monitoring criteria for accredited organizations;


• Assessing the effectiveness and quality of Safety Codes Officers’ training courses; and


• Hearing and deciding appeals of orders and written notices.

As these are volunteer positions, members are not paid but the Safety Codes Council will reimburse its members for all expenses incurred. Per diems are paid for by the nominating municipality. Please see the attached job description for details by clicking here.

The Council is an equal opportunity organization and values diversity of all kinds.

For more information about the Safety Codes Council, please visit www.safetycodes.ab.ca.

Please forward your nominations to AAMDC Policy Analyst, Matt Dow at matt.dow@aamdc.com by July 31, 2017.

Enquiries may be directed to:

Matt Dow
Policy Analyst
780.955.4085

Kim Heyman
Director, Advocacy & Communications
780.955.4079

Municipalities across Alberta have implemented successful local recycling programs. The viability of programs that manage used oil, tires and paint are in jeopardy unless changes are made to outdated recycling regulations to enable these programs to recover their costs. If regulatory changes are not made soon, responsibility for managing potentially hazardous substances will be downloaded to municipalities.

Provincial regulations previously adopted established provincially-regulated stewardship programs for beverage containers, used oil materials, tires, paint, and electronics. The programs are managed by organizations, including the Beverage Container Management Board, the Alberta Recycling Management Authority, and the Alberta Used Oil Management Association, who operate at arm’s length from government and report to the Minister of Environment and Parks. They are governed by boards that include representatives of the AUMA and AAMDC, which helps ensure they have an effective working relationship with municipalities throughout Alberta.

In 2013, public consultations held by the Government of Alberta showed strong municipal support for the expansion of Alberta’s electronics, tires, paint, and used oil recycling programs, and for regulatory changes that offer these programs the flexibility to keep pace with the cost of maintaining them. In addition, the AAMDC has been advocating steadfastly for several years on the need for provincial support to enable the recycling of agricultural plastics.

The AUMA has initiated a letter writing campaign and background document, encouraging municipalities to express concern about the potential downloading impacts this will have on municipalities, and broad waste management issues in Alberta. The AAMDC encourages members to consider adapting this letter and distribute it to local MLAs to demonstrate the importance of this issue and to work to improve waste management in Alberta.

Enquiries may be directed to:

Tasha Blumenthal
Policy Analyst
780.955.4094

Kim Heyman
Director, Advocacy & Communications
780.955.4079

A toolkit to aid the province’s municipalities in adopting and developing solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems in their communities is now available.

The Solar-Friendly Municipalities toolkit was developed in partnership between the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC), the Pembina Institute, and the Solar Energy Society of Alberta with funding provided in part by the Government of Alberta. The toolkit is a response to expressed interest for resources to help municipalities take a leadership role in solar PV systems development on their own facilities and to streamline permitting processes for their communities.

Municipalities are uniquely positioned to lead the deployment of solar PV because of the relationship they have with their citizens, their interests in promoting the sustainability of their communities, and the potential for solar to generate economic growth. This role is increasingly recognized with many municipalities leading the way by installing solar PV systems on their own facilities and engaging with their community members to reduce barriers to solar energy development.

The Solar-Friendly Municipalities Toolkit provides municipalities is intended to serve as a resource to make solar PV and the accompanying benefits a reality in their communities, including:

• Alberta-specific information on solar PV, the permitting process, along with a review of project cost, financing and earnings for a municipality that wants to install solar on its own facilities.


• Best practice recommendations for planners and permitting officials on permitting, taxes and access for solar PV projects.


• Community Engagement and Municipal Leadership strategies with examples from Alberta, Canada, and around the world. Organized by key engagement tactics it also shares some municipal leadership strategies that can be used to demonstrate the benefits of solar PV.


• A Solar Calculator to help municipalities evaluate the economics and performance of proposed grid-connected solar PV projects compared to purchasing electricity from the grid in Alberta.

Continued engagement and feedback on the toolkit is welcomed to ensure it remains relevant as municipalities move forward with solar leadership and growing the solar industry across the province.

The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre is a partnership between the Government of Alberta, the AAMDC and the AUMA.  The MCCAC has several programs available to support municipalities in addressing climate change.

Enquiries may be directed to:

Tasha Blumenthal
Policy Analyst
780.955.4094

Kim Heyman
Director, Advocacy & Communications
780.955.4079

Registration is now open for the EOEP’s new Munis 101: The Essentials of Municipal Governance course at EOEP.ca!

To ensure that as many new and returning elected officials can attend Munis 101 as possible, the EOEP will host the course 14 times within the mandatory 90-day time frame (two times for summer village elected officials in September due to their earlier election dates, and twelve times for other elected officials between October 2017 and January 2018. Specific dates and locations are:

• September 11 and 12, 2017 – Ponoka (summer village elected officials only)


• September 16 and 17, 2017 – Edmonton (summer village elected officials only)


• October 30 and 31, 2017 – Camrose


• November 2 and 3, 2017 – Grande Prairie


• November 4 and 5, 2017 – Lacombe


• November 27 and 28, 2017 – Vermilion


• November 30 and December 1, 2017 – Drumheller


• December 2 and 3, 2017 – Medicine Hat


• December 4 and 5, 2017 – Cochrane


• December 7 and 8, 2017 – Westlock


• December 11 and 12, 2017 – Manning


• December 14 and 15, 2017 – Lac La Biche


• January 6 and 7, 2017 – Peace River


• January 8 and 9, 2018 – Lethbridge

Please note that dates and locations are subject to change based on enrollment numbers as registration progresses.

How to Register
To register, go to the new and improved EOEP.ca and click on the “Courses” tab. Scroll through the calendar to find the course date and location that matches your needs, or scroll through the “Events” sidebar. Click on the course you are interested in, create a profile, and follow the on-screen registration process.

For any difficulties or questions, contact EOEP Registrar Leanne Anderson by emailing registrar@eoep.ca or calling 780-989-7431.

Course Cost
The EOEP recognizes that training can carry a significant cost, and that some municipalities with may struggle to attend an off-site training session. For this reason, registration costs have been set at $200 per person for the Munis 101 courses offered within the mandatory training timeframe. This special price reflects the importance of Munis 101 for new and returning councillors, and the extent to which the EOEP wants to ensure that as many councillors as possible attend the course.

About the Course
Munis 101 is a two-day course that will provide new and returning councillors with everything they need to meet mandatory training requirements and succeed in their roles moving forward. Munis 101 will include the following modules:

Module 1:  Apply the Basics of Municipal Governance and Legislation in Alberta

• Distinguish the role of municipalities in Alberta


• Govern within the municipal organization and function

Module 2:  The Elected Official’s Role in Municipal Leadership

• Recognize the roles and responsibilities of municipal elected officials


• Recognize and respect the roles and responsibilities of municipal staff


• Apply common council decision-making processes


• Work effectively within your individual leadership style

Module 3:  Navigate the World of Municipal Finance

• Recognize important budgeting and financial administration processes


• Distinguish how municipalities are funded

Module 4:  Explore the Role of Municipal Planning and Development

• Recognize how municipalities plan and grow


• Understand common planning and development processes

Module 5:  Ensure Effective Collaboration

• Recognize the importance of collaboration and the available tools


• Build relationships with local businesses and non-profits


• Recognize the opportunities and challenges of collaboration

Need More Information?
Anyone with questions about course content, dates, locations, or other details can contact AAMDC Policy Analyst Wyatt Skovron by emailing wyatt.skovron@aamdc.com or EOEP Registrar Leanne Anderson by emailing registrar@eoep.ca.

Enquiries may be directed to:

Wyatt Skovron
Policy Analyst
780.955.4096

Kim Heyman
Director, Advocacy & Communications
780.955.4079