Proposed Legislation would Allow Alberta to Remove Municipal Council Members and Delay Elections

The Alberta government has proposed a bill that would provide them with extensive powers over municipalities, such as the ability to dismiss councillors, override bylaws, and delay elections.

This legislation would also permit political parties to participate in municipal elections in Edmonton and Calgary as early as next year.

Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver argues that these new powers are necessary to ensure fair elections and accountability from municipal leaders, and they will only be utilized as a last resort.

“My hope is that we never have to use this authority. We prefer not to interfere in municipal affairs,” Mr. McIver stated before the bill was presented in the legislature on April 25.

He mentioned that the criteria for removing councillors would be determined by Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet based on individual cases.

“The public would rightfully criticize us if we dismiss an elected councillor without a solid reason,” Mr. McIver added.

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Until now, the provincial government’s jurisdiction over local bylaws extended only to land-use and recent public health measures like masking and vaccinations.

According to Mr. McIver, the bill is essential to ensure that municipalities are governing within their designated areas of authority.

Additionally, the bill would eliminate the use of electronic voting machines, requiring municipalities to manually count ballots to enhance the credibility of the election process, as stated by Mr. McIver.

“Our primary goal is to reduce doubts in the public’s trust in the election outcomes,” he emphasized.

While municipalities have opposed the inclusion of political parties in local elections, Mr. McIver asserts that the objective is to reinforce confidence in local governance.

Previously, Premier Smith criticized the partisan tendencies of city councils, especially concerning issues like single-use plastic bylaws.

“Due to their increasing political and ideological nature, there should be greater transparency,” she remarked in February.

Recently, the United Conservative Party government introduced another bill granting them the authority to veto any agreements between the federal government and provincial entities, including municipalities and universities.