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Preamble:
WHEREAS the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) currently requires a three-fifths (60%) majority for member resolutions to be endorsed, as outlined in RMA policy GOV-04: RMA Resolution Process; and
WHEREAS the 60% threshold was implemented based on a 2021 Board Governance Review Committee recommendation, with 77.7% of members voting in favour of the change; and
WHEREAS comparative analysis with other provincial municipal associations reveals a wide variation in voting thresholds, ranging from simple majority (50% +1) to a two-thirds (67%) majority; and
WHEREAS RMA does not currently differentiate its advocacy prioritization based on the level of support a resolution receives (e.g., resolutions passed by 60% are treated equally to those passed by 99%); and
WHEREAS data analysis from recent RMA conventions indicates that increasing the voting threshold would result in fewer endorsed resolutions; and
WHEREAS fewer endorsed resolutions would allow RMA to focus its advocacy efforts on issues with broader member consensus and strategic importance; and
WHEREAS RMA regularly reviews its governance and resolution processes and last conducted a Board Governance Review Committee assessment in Spring 2025.
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) increase the voting threshold for the adoption of resolutions from 60% to 75%; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT the RMA conduct a comprehensive review of its current advocacy reporting practices and develop recommendations to improve transparency and enhance information sharing on its advocacy efforts with the RMA membership.
Member Background:
The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) currently endorses resolutions passed by a 60% voting threshold, a standard adopted in 2021 following a recommendation from RMA’s Board Governance Review Committee, which was subsequently endorsed by members. RMA treats all endorsed resolutions equally in terms of advocacy focus, regardless of the margin of support, meaning a resolution with 60.1% support is given the same advocacy focus as a resolution with 99% support.
While RMA has taken great steps to advocate for all resolutions, including doubling the size of their advocacy team, there are still time and resource constraints which impact their ability to fully realize each advocacy opportunity.
Analysis of voting results from 2022 to 2025 (Table 1) indicates that raising the threshold to 75% would reduce the total number of endorsed resolutions but concentrate RMA’s efforts on resolutions that have stronger, broader support among members. This change will lead to more strategic and impactful advocacy, while fostering increased member confidence in the RMA resolution process.
Table 1:
| RMA Resolutions Analysis (2022-2025)
Resolution Pass/Fail Outcomes by Voting Threshold |
|||||
| Voting Threshold | Number of Resolutions Passed | Number of Resolutions Failed | Total Number of Resolutions | Pass Percentage | Fail Percentage |
| 90% | 25 | 79 | 104 | 24% | 76% |
| 80% | 67 | 37 | 104 | 64% | 36% |
| 75% | 84 | 20 | 104 | 81% | 19% |
| 70% | 92 | 12 | 104 | 88% | 12% |
| 65% | 100 | 4 | 104 | 96% | 4% |
| 60% | 104 | 0 | 104 | 100% | 0% |
Table 1 shows a breakdown of what would occur at each 5% increase in the threshold to gain adoption by RMA. With each 5% increase, the pass percentage reduces compared to the current threshold.
Since Spring 2022, a total of 125 resolutions have been brought forward with 104 being endorsed (Table 2). These resolutions cover a wide range of topics, but each one requires significant effort on behalf of the RMA Board and Administration. RMA’s Resolution Process Policy requires that RMA actively advocate on an endorsed resolution for three years.
Table 2:
| Overall Analysis of Resolutions Presented at Conferences 2022-2025 | ||||
| Conference | Resolutions Presented | Passed | Defeated | % Passed |
| Spring 2025 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 69% |
| Fall 2024 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 77% |
| Spring 2024 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 92% |
| Fall 2023 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 86% |
| Spring 2023 | 19 | 18 | 1 | 95% |
| Fall 2022 | 24 | 22 | 2 | 92% |
| Spring 2022 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 70% |
A comparison with other municipal associations (Table 3) across Canada reveals a broad range of voting thresholds, from simple majority to two-thirds, with some organizations using priority ranking systems instead.
Table 3:
| Organization | # of
Members |
Voting Threshold | 2024
Outcomes |
Notes |
| Rural
Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) |
69 | 60% | 28/33 (84%) | |
|
Alberta Municipalities (AB Munis) |
265 | 50% + 1 vote | 23/27
resolutions passed (85%) |
|
| Union of British Columbia
Municipalities (UBCM) |
189 | Simple majority 50% + 1 vote | 189/267
resolutions endorsed (77%) |
|
| Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities
(SARM) |
296 | 51% | 37/44
resolutions received (84%) |
Proposed resolution to increase the threshold to 2/3 was defeated in 2024 |
| Saskatchewan Urban Municipal Association (SUMA) | 454 | Not specified | 11/11
active resolutions (100%) |
Resolutions placed into three priority categories (Priority 1,
2, 3) – ranked in terms of urgency/action required. |
| Association of Manitoba Municipalities
(AMM) |
137 | 2/3 majority – 67% | 41/41
passed (100%) |
|
|
Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) |
444 | Not specified | Not specified | AMO holds input sessions for members re: advocacy approach to
specific policy issues |
| Union of Municipalities of
Quebec |
“nearly 400” | Unspecified | Unspecified | |
|
Municipalities of Newfoundland & Labrador |
276
|
Advocacy Committee reviews and provides
recommendations. |
7/7 (100%) | Resolutions are placed into three priority levels ranked in terms of
importance/attention |
| Union of Municipalities of
New Brunswick |
60 | Simple majority (50% +1) | 12/12 (100%) | |
| Federation of PEI
Municipalities |
44 | 2/3 majority (67%) | Unspecified |
RMA’s Board of Directors and staff are facing increasing pressures on time and resources. This resolution proposes increasing the voting threshold for resolutions to 75%, allowing for a more strategic and focused approach. This change would provide the association with more time to concentrate on enhancing quality, focus, and strengthening the strategic alignment of RMA’s collective advocacy efforts.
RMA Background:
RMA has no active resolutions directly related to this issue.
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