The government of Alberta has tabled legislation that will give it sweeping powers over municipalities across the province, including the right to fire councillors and overturn bylaws.
Bill 20, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, includes two pieces of legislation: the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) and the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
If passed, the amendments to the Municipal Government Act will allow cabinet to remove a councillor “if in the public interest” or to order a referendum to decide whether a councillor should be removed, which will be reviewed in a case-by-case basis.
The amendment will also enable cabinet to require a municipal government to amend or repeal a bylaw, as well as giving cabinet the ability to postpone elections.
Right now, provincial cabinet can only intervene with municipal land-use bylaw or statutory plan. Only the municipal affairs minister can remove a sitting councillor under specific circumstances through a municipal inspection process.
The legislation also proposes allowing municipalities to require criminal record checks for candidates as part of their nomination package. Candidates can currently be disqualified for certain criminal convictions on their records, including corruption-related offences.
“Albertans expect fair and free elections, and through this legislation, we are ensuring that locally elected officials are accountable to the Albertans who elect them and make decisions that are clearly in Alberta’s interests and reflect the transparency and fairness that Albertans deserve,” Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver told reporters on Thursday.
Kyle Kasawki, Opposition municipal affairs critic, said municipal councils have a duty to represent the citizens who elect them.
“They know best how to run their own affairs. What municipalities need are appropriate funds so that they can fix the crumbling infrastructure in their communities and to pay for the programs that Albertans deserve,” Kasawki said in an emailed statement.
On Thursday, municipal politicians were quick to push back against the bill.
Edmonton Coun. Aaron Paquette wrote on social media, “Bend the knee or be fired?
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that she is left with more questions than answers. While she welcomes criminal record checks for candidates, she raised concerns about other parts of the bill.
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