The Alberta government plans to make sweeping changes to how municipalities operate. (RDNewsNow)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

DEVELOPING

Alberta proposes councillor removal powers, electronic tabulator ban and more in city government revamp

Apr 25, 2024 | 2:57 PM

Alberta plans to give itself the power to remove city councillors, ban the use of machine counting in municipal elections and mandate councillor orientation as part of a major update to how local governments operate across the province.

The amendments to the Municipal Government and Local Authorities Election acts proposed Thursday through Bill 20 aim to also improve transparency by including local political party affiliations on ballots in a pilot project taking place only in Calgary and Edmonton.

The province will also have the power to push back municipal elections in the case of natural disasters.

READ: Here’s a list of all the changes to municipal operations

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Through the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, the Alberta government will be able to remove a councillor if it’s “in the public interest” and repeal or change bylaws at local councils.

Cabinet already had the authority to amend or repeal city bylaws related to land use or statutory plans but, with the government’s proposed changes, that authority would be extended to any item passed by council.

“We are doing this in order to protect the provincial interest by ensuring municipalities are governing affairs that are within their jurisdiction,” municipal affairs minister Ric McIver said Thursday.

The minister insisted it wasn’t an overreach of power by the province, saying Cabinet has never utilized such powers before since the Municipal Government Act came into force in 1994.

Municipal affairs minister Ric McIver says the province will not reach down into local council affairs unless as a last resort. (Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)

“It is our intention that such interventions will only be considered at last resort,” McIver, who was formerly a city councillor, told reporters.

The new abilities to remove a councillor or intervene in council business would not replace the current municipal inspection process but instead augment it, officials said.

“Alberta’s government is reluctant to intervene in municipal matters, especially when it comes to local democracy,” the minister said.

The municipal affairs ministry declined to open an inspection into the City of Medicine Hat after a letter from residents with a few hundred signatories called for one earlier this year.

NDP critic for municipal affairs Kyle Kasawski alluded to hypocrisy at play.

“Smith and the UCP have complained ad nauseum about overreach into provincial jurisdiction but when it comes to municipalities, Danielle Smith insists on being gatekeeper-in-chief,” Kasawaski said in reference to the premier’s accusations of federal overreach.

“Municipal councillors have a duty to represent the citizens who elected them and they deserve a provincial government who supports them as a partner.”

McIver said he was charged with strengthening public trust in local elections by Premier Danielle Smith and part of that is eliminating electronic counting of ballots.

“Eliminating the use of electronic tabulators will give confidence to Albertans that their votes are being counted correctly and bolster their trust in the methods and results of local elections,” McIver said.

Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and numerous other municipalities have used tabulators for decades.

Beyond mandating by-hand counting, the government is removing the ability for people to vouch for electors who do not produce official identification at a polling station.

Also through the new rules, municipal voter lists that include names and contact information will not be shared with candidates.

There are changes to how councils will operate as well.

Orientation will now be required instead of being just optional in an effort to better prepare councillors for their role.

Those around council horseshoes will also be allowed to recuse themselves for real or perceived conflicts of interest. Previously that was limited to matters of financial interest.

In a scenario where a council item could benefit a relative even if it does not directly impact the bank account of the councillor, they could recuse themselves with the new legislation, McIver explained.

The government is also shifting the responsibility of validating recall petitions — methods of removing an elected member of council through resident signatures used recently in Medicine Hat and Calgary — from city staff executives to the minister of municipal affairs.

Should Bill 20 pass as expected, supporting regulations would be developed in consultation with cities and towns across Alberta in late spring and summer of 2024.

The government is aiming to have the new rules in place well ahead of the next municipal elections scheduled for fall 2025.

“We will be working with municipalities in Alberta to ensure they understand the updated election rules and the requirements that all locally-elected official and local councils must follow,” McIver said.

“It is vitally important that we do what we can to ensure the local election process is transparent and keep local elected officials more accountable to the people they represent.”