Alberta’s Electricity Future Interactive Sessions
Sessions from Energy Futures Lab seek to gather input from rural municipalities on Alberta’s Electricity Future. Alberta’s Electricity Future, an initiative of the Energy Futures Lab (EFL), is working with stakeholders across Alberta to envision what the future of electricity should look like as well as generating and testing ideas to move towards it. A […]
RMA Concerned Bill 21 Will Centralize Control of Local Emergency Response
Nisku, AB, May 13, 2024 – Last week, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis introduced Bill 21, Emergency Statutes Amendment Act. If passed, the bill would give the province sweeping authority to seize control over local emergency situations. Bill 21 undermines Alberta’s current partnership-based approach to emergency response and centralizes control with […]
Register for EOEP Updated Regional Partnerships and Collaboration Course
Registration is open for the updated Regional Partnerships and Collaboration course! With the movement to regional collaboration in recent years, EOEP has updated its Regional Partnerships and Collaboration course to meet the current needs of Alberta’s municipal elected leaders. The new interactive approach to the course will teach participants about best practices in collaborative partnerships, […]
Initial RMA Reaction to Bill 21
New legislation would give provincial government power to take control of local emergency response On May 9, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services introduced Bill 21: Emergency Statutes Amendment Act, which amends six pieces of legislation. Of note for RMA members are the proposed amendments to the Emergency Management Act, the Forest and […]
RMA Participates in Senate Committee Meeting on Advertised Broadband Speeds
RMA presented to the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications regarding advertised internet speeds not meeting user experience Bill C-288 is being reviewed by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications. The bill would require internet service providers (ISPs) to provide additional information when advertising a service such as the typical speeds achieved during […]
Survey Open on Sub-Regional Caribou Recovery Plans
Survey seeks input on Bistcho Lake and Cold Lake sub-regional caribou recovery plans The Government of Alberta is seeking input on regulations related to the Bistcho Lake and Cold Lake sub-regional caribou recovery plans. These plans were completed two years ago and are the first two of 11 sub-regional plans covering 15 caribou ranges being […]
Applications Open for Drought and Flood Protection Program
$125 million available to municipalities and Indigenous communities to improve drought and flood resiliency Introduced in Budget 2024, the Drought and Flood Protection Program will be funded at $25 million per year for five years. The program is designed to help municipalities design and construct projects that protect critical infrastructure from drought and flooding and […]
New Water Licensing System Requires Action from Some License Holders
New online tool requires action from holders of a water license issued prior to November 2021 The Government of Alberta has launched a new tool to help Albertans manage water licences and associated water use information more efficiently, including water use reporting. If you hold a water licence that was issued prior to November 2021, […]
AUC Consultation on Rule 007
The Alberta Utilities Commission has announced their first consultation following provincial policy changes on renewable energy The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) issued a bulletin on May 2 outlining their next steps in response to the changes to provincial policy regarding renewable energy. The consultation focuses on the AUC’s Rule 007. For RMA members, Rule 007 […]
RMA Concerns With Bill 20 Impacts on Municipal Democracy
Bill 20 allows the Government of Alberta unreasonable control over municipal decision-making. RMA is hopeful that promised amendments to the bill will correct this over-reach On April 25, 2024, Bill 20: Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 was introduced in the Legislative Assembly. Bill 20 makes significant amendments to both the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and the Local Authorities Elections Act (LAEA). On […]