Medicine Hat city councillor says Alberta Bill 20 amendments are ‘not enough’

McIver’s amendments, among other changes, mean cabinet could only oust locally elected officials by ordering a recall vote – a walkback from what was previously proposed in the legislation.

The adjustments are not enough for McGrogan, who called the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act an “overreach” after it was proposed.

READ: McGrogan says Alberta’s proposed Bill 20 is an ‘overreach’

“McIver came out and made a couple of amendments — not enough,” McGrogan told some 100 people gathered outside city hall.

“He did it because people got up and said wait a minute, what are you doing?”

A rally criticizing the United Conservative provincial government took place outside of city hall on Saturday. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

McGrogan, who was speaking on only his behalf and not all of council, was addressing an anti-United Conservative Party rally held by the AWARE advocacy group that featured speakers criticizing the Alberta government’s transgender, climate and economic policies.

He said a recall vote to remove an elected official wouldn’t make sense, either, do to the high bar that’s currently in place for such an action. Instead, an election already provides a perfect opportunity for citizens to give their take.

“Every four years, everybody gets their choice,” McGrogan said.

McGrogan reiterated his support for some of the other changes proposed by Smith’s government, including candidate criminal record checks and standardized mandatory training for incoming councillors and mayors.

Through Bill 20, UCP will trial allowing formal political parties at the municipal level, commonly known as council slates. Those slates are not allowed to be attached to an existing provincial of federal party but can run for office as a group.

McGrogan, and others across the province, have maintained that initiative could undermine the relatively independent nature of municipal politics.

“Here’s what I love about local politics: it doesn’t matter if I’m a card-carrying NDP member or UCP member, and I believe the combination of both is good on any council,” he said to applause.

“Then you get this awesome mixture.”

Medicine Hat’s city council as a whole has not spoken out about Bill 20 one month after it was first proposed.

Mayor Linnsie Clark give not give any comment on the legislation during a business event with Smith earlier in May and other members of council beyond McGrogan have not spoken out about it.

Other municipalities in Alberta have voted to formally condemn parts or all of Bill 20 but Medicine Hat’s council has not yet made any moves in that direction.

McGrogan has mentioned he may bring up the topic during the next council meeting on June 3.

— with files from The Canadian Press

by Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat city councillor says Alberta Bill 20 amendments are ‘not enough’

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