Municipal affairs minister Ric McIver says overturning bylaws would have been used as a last resort. (Canadian Press)

By Canadian Press, Eli J. Ridder

UPDATED

Alberta government to amend bill granting it sweeping powers over municipalities after criticism

May 2, 2024 | 11:27 AM

The Alberta government is making changes to a bill that would give cabinet unfettered power to fire mayors and councillors and overturn bylaws after sweeping criticism from officials across the province, including a Medicine Hat councillor.

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

Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said Thursday the government will introduce changes and implement rules surrounding how and when cabinet can overrule local governments.

“We will be working with municipalities to propose amendments to the legislation and clarify that this would only be used in very limited circumstances,” McIver said, in part.

The bill is before the legislature and has been criticized by municipal leaders as a severe overreach into municipal government affairs.

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Alberta Municipalities president Tyler Gandam has said members are concerned the proposed law would intimidate and silence legally elected officials who dare criticize the province.

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi described the legislation as “intimidation” and “an attack on local democracy.”

Coun. Andy McGrogan told CHAT News this week that Bill 20 amounted to provincial overreach.

It was a bit of an overreach in my view and I’m surprised,” he told CHAT News.

For McGrogan, who was speaking only on his behalf, questioned the reasoning for the proposal.

“If you’re going to make a rule like that, than it’d be really nice to know the ‘why’,” McGrogan said.

“If they’re saying that they want to be able to remove council members, for instance, or the mayor, why don’t we leave it to the code of conduct bylaw?”

Minister McIver has insisted he wants to make it clear that the new powers in the bill would only be used as a last resort.

He said the power to repeal municipal bylaws should be used only when those bylaws fall under areas of shared responsibility, such as health care, education, the provincial economy or public safety.