Monthly Resolution Update – August 2024
To improve reporting on resolution advocacy, the RMA is releasing a monthly bulletin highlighting recent actions undertaken on select active resolutions The Monthly Resolution Update Bulletin is a way of routinely highlighting a selection of the over 70 currently active resolutions, offering members a more detailed insight into the work being carried out on their […]
Federal Minister Orders Binding Arbitration in Rail Labour Dispute
The shutdown of both of Canada’s major freight railways would have had devastating impacts on Alberta’s agricultural industry. On the afternoon of Thursday, August 22, Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon used his powers under the Canada Labour Code to refer separate labour disputes between Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City and the union representing […]
Auditor General Releases Report on Surface Water Management – Read RMA’s Backgrounder for Key Details
RMA has reviewed the Alberta Auditor General’s report on the management practices of surface water in Alberta. On July 10, 2024, the office of the Alberta Auditor General shared the findings of their inquiry into the management practices of surface water in Alberta. RMA has developed an issue backgrounder providing more details on the report […]
Government of Alberta Releases Updated Drought Response Plan
On August 14, the Government of Alberta released its updated Drought Response Plan for 2024. This follows the initial plan released in May 2024, which includes guidance on drought response for all water users including municipalities and is intended to help government, irrigators, communities, businesses, and others respond quickly and effectively to a wide range […]
RMA Makes Two Submissions Regarding Renewable Energy Approvals
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation and the Alberta Utilities Commission were both seeking input related to project approval processes and agricultural land impacts. RMA recently made submissions to both Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) and the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) in response to consultations regarding renewable energy development and approvals. AGI was consulting on their “agriculture […]
Western Canada’s Rural Municipalities Urge Federal Government to Ensure a Quick Resolution to Rail Labour Dispute
Nisku, AB, Regina, SK, and Portage la Prairie, MB, August 20, 2024 – As a nationwide labour dispute looms between Canada’s two major freight railways and the union representing workers at each, the associations representing rural municipalities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are extremely concerned about the impacts that a rail work stoppage would have […]
RMA Bridge Asset Deficit Report Now Available
The bridge report is the first phase of an RMA project to quantify Alberta’s rural municipal infrastructure deficit. Stay tuned for more reports in the coming weeks! Over the past several months, the RMA, in conjunction with Tantus Solutions Group, has undertaken an ambitious study to assess the current infrastructure deficit in rural municipalities. This […]
Provincial Government Changes to Managing Unpaid Taxes
The Minister of Energy and Minerals wrote to the RMA announcing expanded tools to ensure payment of municipal taxes by the oil and gas sector The Minister of Energy and Minerals, Hon. Brian Jean, recently wrote to the RMA announcing an expansion of policies to require payment of municipal property taxes from the oil and […]
Rural Economic Development Committee Initiative
The RMA has partnered with the Government of Alberta to help members establish effective Economic Development Advisory Committees The RMA has received funding from the Government of Alberta’s Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan (EDRAP) to create a Rural Economic Development Committee Toolkit. This toolkit will be a crucial resource for municipalities across the province […]
Notice of Elections and Procedures for 2024 RMA Board of Directors
Three seats on the RMA Board of Directors are up for election at the RMA 2024 Fall Convention The RMA 2024 Fall Convention will take place November 4 – 7 with the following three seats on the Board of Directors being up for election. All positions will serve a two-year term (2024 – 2026): RMA […]