Policy committees set priorities for new term
Throughout March, all five Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) policy committees met for the first time this year.
As committee orientation was held virtually earlier in the year, members were able to dive straight into their work. Meetings focused on reviewing workplans, hearing from guest speakers, and digging into key policy priorities.
The Policing, Justice and Emergency Management Committee shared early experiences with the updated Police Funding Model. They also welcomed the Association of Community Peace Officers and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta to discuss a joint advocacy campaign on presumptive coverage for mental health injuries. Members can contribute to this campaign by sending a letter of support based on a template we have developed.
The Health and Social Wellbeing Committee reviewed three requests for decision and made recommendations to the Board on how to prioritize resolutions related to midwifery care, participation in the Health Integration Council, and childcare. The committee also discussed ABmunis FCSS advocacy, to which members can contribute with the help of our FCSS Toolkit
The Finance and Economy Committee provided input on ABmunis’ next steps for research and resources for members related to our Property Taxes Reimagined initiative. The Committee also discussed options to improve the existing municipal indicators, what is needed in a new Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) Workbook, and other priority issues such as municipal viability and housing supply.
The Municipal Governance Committee discussed viability and ICFs through a governance lens. Members also reviewed feedback from municipalities on local elections and discussed anticipated legislative changes to the Municipal Government Act (MGA). One strong theme throughout the meeting was a sense of shared experience. Members realized that challenges they thought were unique are, in fact, widely felt across municipalities.
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee focused on offsite levies, ABmunis' new water conservation guide, and school sites, and made several recommendations to the Board on resolution prioritization.
Across all committees, members also proposed questions for convention panels, Minister’s Dialogue Sessions, and other events. You may have already seen the results of these early conversations in the questions asked at ABmunis' Spring MLC.
With lots of work ahead, the Committees are off to a great start.
