Redford government plans to consult municipalities before going any further with controversial new legislation that critics say could negatively impact local government autonomy is welcome news, says Mountain View County reeve Bruce Beattie.
“That's very good to hear,” said Beattie. “I'm extremely pleased to hear that. We are very concerned with a situation where a cabinet appointed group would have authority over elected representatives in a municipality.”
On Thursday, Premier Alison Redford announced that her government was putting the brakes on Bill 28, The Modernizing Regional Governance Act, pending consultations with the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAD&MC).
“Our government caucus has decided that before this bill proceeds any further, the minister of Municipal Affairs will strike a task force with the AUMA and AADMC to ensure meaningful consultation on the bill and its objectives,” Redford said in a press release.
Bill 28 would give the provincial cabinet the authority to set up boards to oversee shared needs of municipalities in close proximity to each other, and the board's decisions would have be to be approved by Municipal Affairs.
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Wildrose MLA Bruce Rowe, who is his party's Municipal Affairs critic, calls Bill 28 “flawed legislation.”
“This government simply does not understand that municipalities should be our partners, not our enemies, when it comes to good, sound regional planning,” said Rowe.
Following Premier Reford's announcement Thursday, Wildrose leader Danielle Smith said: “I am delighted to see the premier come around to our perspective on this legislation.”
