Surveys on potential changes to LAEA & MGA close Dec. 6

Alberta Municipalities’ Board of Directors encourages all Albertans to complete short online surveys on potential changes to the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) and Municipal Government Act (MGA) that were launched last week by the Government of Alberta.

Albertans have 21 days to share their thoughts on the proposed legislative changes with the provincial government. Both surveys close on Wednesday, December 6.

A virtual town hall meeting with ABmunis President Tyler Gandam on this topic is being planned for our members to take place in the near future. Watch for details in next week’s issue of The Weekly.

Potential changes to the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA)

This confidential survey is collecting feedback related to the LAEA. The act provides the legislative framework for municipal and school board elections. Municipalities include cities, towns, villages, summer villages, counties, municipal districts, and specialized municipalities. Metis Settlements and Irrigation Districts also rely on the LAEA to conduct their elections. Some questions refer to municipality, however these changes may also apply to school boards, Metis Settlements and Irrigation Districts.

The survey on potential changes to the LAEA covers the following topics:

• Supporting the use of political parties in municipal governments
• Advance voting
• Making voter lists available to candidates
• Rules for postponement of local elections
• Ability to vouch for electors without government-issued identification
• Use of special ballots
• Use of runoff elections for the position of mayor/reeve.

Click here to respond to the LAEA survey. It takes between 10 and 15 minutes to complete.

Potential changes to the Municipal Government Act (MGA)

This confidential survey is collecting feedback regarding the MGA as it relates to councillor accountability. The act provides the legislative framework supporting councillor accountability once they have been elected.

The survey on potential changes to the MGA considers:

• Mandating orientation training for councillors
• Expanding the ability for councils to meet in private
• Authority for the Minister of Municipal Affairs to remove a councillor
• Changes to recall legislation
• Rules for councillors to disclose business interests or other personal history
• Rules for councillor disqualification
• Clarify councillor conflicts of interest.

Click here to respond to the MGA Councillor Accountability Review survey. It takes between 10 and 15 minutes to complete.

ABmunis’ position on the possible introduction of political parties in municipal elections

Our members and most Albertans do not support the introduction of partisan politics within local governments. This was confirmed by a public opinion survey conducted by pollster Janet Brown for Alberta Municipalities in September 2023, and the resolution passed by members at our 2023 Convention.