Municipal leaders from Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, and Saskatchewan gathered in Edmonton on August 25 and 26 for the annual meeting of the Western Canadian Municipal Associations (WCMA). This year’s event was hosted by Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA).
Discussions focused on the rising cost of municipal infrastructure projects, investment in trade corridors, emergency preparedness, AI data centre development, and the future of RCMP contract policing. Association representatives agreed that municipalities need a stronger voice in federal decisions that directly affect local governments and taxpayers. They also committed to joint advocacy efforts on several of these issues in the months ahead.
Alberta Municipalities President Dylan Bressey said the meeting highlighted the growing pressures municipalities across Western Canada.
“Municipalities across Western Canada continue to be squeezed by international upheaval and budget constraints. The effects are being felt at the community level every day,” said Bressey. “As the order of government closest to the people, municipalities are taking action to address these issues and seeking supports from the Government of Canada and their provincial counterparts.”
The annual WCMA gathering provides an important forum for western municipal associations to collaborate on advocacy priorities, share best practices and strengthen their collective voice on issues of national importance. Next year’s WCMA meeting will be held in Saskatchewan.
