Edmonton officially calling on province to scrap contentious bills aimed at municipalities
The City of Edmonton is asking the Government of Alberta to scrap two bills with big implications for municipalities.
Bill 20 includes dozens of amendments that would reshape local elections and give the province more power over municipal affairs and council members, while Bill 18 prevents provincial entities – like municipalities or post-secondaries – from accessing funding without provincial permission.
- Alberta tables gatekeeper bill on federal funding, cites housing money as last straw
- UCP able to remove councillors and axe city bylaws in new sweeping bill aimed at municipal politics
On Wednesday, city council unanimously approved a motion to ask the province to rescind both, citing a lack of stakeholder engagement.
"Consult with the municipalities, get our input, consult with other stakeholders at the universities and then bring back something that may work for everyone," Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said. "I think it could be a win-win situation for everyone if there's a little pause on it and a thoughtful approach to engagement."
Coun. Andrew Knack said the city is on board with some of the amendments in Bill 20, but many changes – like allowing corporate and union donations and adding political parties as amendments – would make elections less fair and transparent.
"Things like mandatory councillor training, that makes perfect sense," Knack said. "For all the other things, where there's clearly widespread opposition from Albertans, let's go and work through those in more detail."
On Thursday, after backlash over Bill 20, Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver promised stakeholders consultations. However, Premier Danielle Smith said Friday morning amendments would be introduced as early as this week.
- Alberta UCP facing growing pushback following introduction of municipalities bill
- 'So damn undemocratic': Edmonton mayor reacts to legislation granting province power to fire councillors or veto local bylaws
- Canadian university teachers fear Alberta gatekeeping bill threatens academic freedom
McIver told media Wednesday he "had a couple conversations" with municipal leaders and representatives, but Alberta Municipalities, an advocacy group representing the communities where 85 per cent of Albertans live, told Edmonton City Council there had yet to be any meaningful consultation.
"I had one conversation with Mr. McIver on Thursday morning over the phone, he updated me on two amendments they were looking at changing," Alberta Municipalities president Tyler Gandam told council. "I have not received that to date."
- Alberta Municipalities hasn't been asked for input on bill giving cabinet new powers
- Academics, rural municipalities raise concerns about Alberta's Bill 18
City councillors and the mayor have also expressed concerns over the additional costs that Bill 20 and Bill 18 would download onto municipalities.
Gandam said banning of electronic vote tabulators and requiring virtual public engagement options would also cost communities more, with the province giving no indication it would provide funding to support those changes.
"There'll be the potential for a lot of financial impact, especially for some of the smaller municipalities," Gandam said.
Knack, who brought forward Wednesday's motion, said the bills will have big impacts on Alberta's communities and should be given far more time for consideration and consultation.
"Trying to Frankenstein this bill into 'let's keep piecemealing it and let's keep making amendments' is not going to result in thoughtful legislation," Knack said. "Don't rush this because you have a three week deadline for the spring sitting.
"We're all ready to work together."
In a Wednesday press release, Alberta Municipalities joined Edmonton's request that Bill 20 be rescinded, calling the legislation an "attempted power grab."
"The provincial government’s silence and clear reluctance to meaningfully consult with us speaks volumes," the statement read. "Here’s what it says to us – the Government of Alberta is still not listening to Albertans.
"Instead, it is blindly ploughing ahead regardless of what many Albertans think, want, and need, and without thought to the greater impacts of the bill."
McIver has confirmed that the province is "contemplating amendments," but would not say when those would be ready or shared with municipalities.
He said he expects the bills to pass by the end of the month.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP want Liberals to scrap proposed election date change that could secure pensions for many MPs
The federal New Democrats want to amend the Liberal government's electoral reform legislation to scrap the proposal to push back the vote by a week and consequently secure pensions for dozens of MPs, CTV News has learned.
Supreme Court won't hear appeal in Montreal brainwashing experiments case
The Supreme Court of Canada will not review a Quebec ruling that bars people from suing the U.S. government in Canada over its role in notorious brainwashing experiments at a Montreal psychiatric hospital.
Drive one of these vehicles? You may pay 37 per cent more than average insurance costs due to thefts
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
Teen pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of homeless man in downtown Toronto
One of eight teen girls charged in the death of a homeless man in downtown Toronto has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
'I'm not wealthy': Ontario senior shocked she owes $40,000 in capital gains after gifting land
An Ontario senior who wanted to help her daughter and grandson eventually own homes one day decided to give them two lots on her property as a gift—but she didn’t know it would eventually cost her tens of thousands of dollars.
National task force not lowering age for routine breast cancer screening to 40
A national task force that provides guidance for primary health-care providers is not lowering the recommended breast cancer screening age to 40, despite urging from several cancer specialists, surgeons and radiologists.
Police arrest 19-year-old suspect after Montreal triple homicide
Police have made an arrest following a deadly street fight that ended with three people killed in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough last week.
How to save on food and drinks at your next sports game or concert
When Dianne Debarros and Tom Stitzel headed to a Toronto Blue Jays game last month, the couple figured dining at the Rogers Centre would not be cheap.
Video shows driver in Toronto frantically getting out of car being pushed by truck
A CP24 camera caught the moment a driver frantically got out of her car as it was being dragged by a truck on Avenue Road Wednesday afternoon.