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By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

EXPLAINER

Here’s how municipal elections and governance in Alberta are changing

Apr 25, 2024 | 3:18 PM

The ruling United Conservatives proposed legislation on Thursday changing how elections and city halls will operate from 2025 onwards, pending approval.

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

It’s the biggest overhaul of municipal rules in recent years and hands more power to the provinces.

Here are the biggest changes to elections:

• municipalities will be allowed to require criminal record checks for candidates, which be included in the public nomination packages.
• union and corporate donations to candidates will be allowed, with the same donation limits as individuals, which is $5,000.
• limit donations to third party advertisers to $5,000 per election period, down from $30,000 previously. The election period begins May 1 of the election year.
• allow donations outside of the local election year and require annual reporting of donations.
• allow for election parties or slates at the municipal level in Calgary and Edmonton, as part of a pilot project for the 2025 election period.
• repeal the municipal authority to develop a voters list.

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Here are the biggest changes to how city halls will operate:

• require mandatory orientation training for councillors.
• allow elected officials to recuse themselves for real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• make the Minister responsible for validating municipal recall petitions.
• enable Alberta’s Cabinet to require a municipality to amend or repeal a bylaw.
• give Cabinet authority to direct a municipality to take specific action to protect public health and/or safety.
• allow the minister to outline joint use planning agreement criteria and requirements.
• require a councillor’s seat to become vacant upon disqualification.
• allow Cabinet to remove a councillor if in the public interest, or toorder a referendum to determine whether the councillor should be removed.
• give Cabinet authority to direct a municipality to take specific actionto protect public health and/or safety.

Here are the accelerating housing development changes:

• require municipalities to offer digital options for public hearings on planning and development and restrict them from holding extra hearings when not required by legislation.
• fully exempt non-profit subsidized affordable housing from property taxation.
• enable multi-year residential property tax incentives.
• limit the ability of municipalities to require non-statutory studies as requirements for building and development permits.