With AB Munis conference on deck, Alberta mayors meet in Red Deer

“We have to work together as regions or as neighbouring municipalities … [with this event], there is a bit more focus on issues that are pertaining specifically to a city the size of Red Deer,” she says.

“The benefit of understanding each other and bringing different perspectives on an issue to the table is that we understand that in many cases, we are faced by the exact same challenges. Yet, some of us have different approaches, and we can learn from one another.”

On housing, Jefferies says municipalities agreed that one size does not fit all.

“Sometimes, geography plays into the equation; maybe you’re remote, or you’re located on a highway corridor,” says Jefferies.

“Speaking with the mayor of Cold Lake, one of their challenges is needing housing for the defense investments being made; it’s similar to what we face here with expansion of the hospital. We know we’ll need more housing units to accommodate the people coming here [to work].”

Meanwhile, Jefferies and team are gearing up for AB Munis, which is taking place Sept. 23-25 at the Edmonton Convention Centre.

At AB Munis, municipal reps debate and vote on resolutions, with the ones that get passed ultimately advocated for to the provincial government as the collective will of Alberta’s cities, towns, villages and hamlets.

Red Deer is bringing two resolutions to the table.

The first is asking for the province to work with communities on aligning municipal fiscal years with the provincial and federal budget cycles. The resolution is seconded by the Town of Penhold.

The second seeks to improve funding and coordination of Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), and that is seconded by the AB Munis board, as it was an eleventh-hour proposal.

Red Deer was going to pose a third resolution, but it was picked up by others; and it aims to garner support for better alignment of regulations for e-bikes and e-scooters across the province.

On being good partners with the province, Mayor Jefferies says it can be difficult for municipalities to garner all the attention they’d like.

“There are a lot of distractions in our world right now, within the province and the geopolitical space that has taken some of the attention away from municipal needs. With infrastructure needs [for example], you can’t let that sit for a long, long time, because there are issues when we start to defer maintenance,” she says.

“Looking at how municipalities are faring in these times is really important, and working in relationship with others is key to getting the issues resolved.”

The 2026 AB Munis Resolution Book can be viewed here.

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by Josh Hall

With AB Munis conference on deck, Alberta mayors meet in Red Deer

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