Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in Red Deer on Mar.1, 2022. (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Justin Goulet/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Clarity And Certainty

Province to propose legislation that would limit municipal public health measures

Mar 1, 2022 | 5:49 PM

The Alberta Government is planning to introduce legislation that would block municipalities from implementing bylaws that contradict provincial public health policies.

The proposed amendments to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) will ensure Alberta has one clear policy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Jason Kenney said, “as we safely move beyond COVID restrictions, we need clarity, consistency and unity.”

“It would be confusing and divisive to have multiple different public health policies, particularly when there is no compelling public health rationale. It is time for us to move forward together.”

Provincial legislation takes precedence over any bylaw enacted by a municipality where they are inconsistent.

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Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver said, “this proposed change will create clarity and certainty for Albertans when it comes to public health policy after almost two years of changing guidelines.”

“Municipalities have asked the provincial government to take the lead on public health policy many times in the past, and we are confident now is the right time for everyone in the province to follow the same rules to avoid confusion and frustration.”

The announcement on the proposed amendments comes Tuesday as Step 2 of the province’s lifting of COVID-19 measures takes effect.

READ MORE: Most COVID restrictions now lifted in Alberta

Step 2 includes the removal of mask mandates in most settings. Masking is still required in high-risk settings like Alberta Health Services facilities, continuing care centres and on public transit.

“Kenney’s announcement today is another slap in the face to our municipal leaders,” said Public Interest Alberta Executive Director Bradley Lafortune. “If the Premier is serious about building a recovery for Alberta, he must work with partners and allow them to make informed decisions for their municipalities. This means pressing pause and reversing course on plans to introduce new laws that will strip municipal leaders of their ability to govern.”

In a statement issued by Alberta Municipalities on Tuesday, officials described the government’s announcement as an unfortunate turn of events.

“The Government of Alberta’s intended course of action – amending the MGA – was never formally discussed with us. No conversation, consultation, or collaboration occurred between the provincial government and Alberta Municipalities on this important topic.

“Alberta Municipalities finds the provincial government’s ‘top-down’ approach to be heavy-handed and unnecessary. It seems like a short-term political calculation that could “influence long-term governance decisions at the municipal level.

“It is cause for concern, and we worry that it may set a dangerous precedent. Afterall, if the provincial government can amend the MGA whenever a local government disagrees with it or wishes to take a different approach, then municipalities will have lost some of their autonomy and some of their freedom to decide and act locally in the best interests of their residents and businesses.

We ask the Government of Alberta to re-consider its decision to amend the MGA, and we encourage it to work with us and other key municipal government stakeholders to resolve the issue another way.”

(With files from rdnewsNOW)