Barrhead Town council asks premier to take her own advice on Bill 20

BARRHEAD - Town of Barrhead councillors believe Premier Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party (UCP) "need to stick in their lane".

Councillors unanimously expressed their views on the recent introduction of Bill 20 during May 14's council meeting. They voted to join the increasing number of municipalities by writing a letter to the premier, Minister of Municipal Affairs Rick McIver, and Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken, calling on the government to rescind the controversial legislation.

The bill, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, would amend the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) and the Municipal Government Act (MGA) to give the provincial government unprecedented powers to intervene in a municipality's affairs by cabinet the power to dismiss councillors and mayors in any municipality without clearly stating the reason, postpone elections and repeal or amend local bylaws. The legislation also allows corporations and unions to contribute up to $5,000 in every municipal election, the same as individual contribution limits.

It would also introduce political parties in municipal government in Edmonton and Calgary as a pilot project.

Chief administrative officer (CAO) Edward LeBlanc said the Alberta Municipalities (ABMunis) is asking its members to lobby the province to help it rescind or significantly amend the bill.

He added that if council chose to follow ABMunis' ask, time was of the essence as Bill 20, as the government is expected to approve the legislation before the end of the spring sitting on May 30.

ABMunis is an advocacy group that works to lobby the provincial and federal government on issues concerning its members (summer villages, villages, towns, cities, and other specialized municipalities). It represents roughly 260 members, including the Town of Barrhead.

In the e-mail to municipalities, ABMunis president Tyler Gandam and the mayor of the City of Wetaskiwin said that, according to a recent poll, 76 per cent of its members oppose the legislation and encouraged municipal elected officials to help them stop Bill 20 by letting the premier, McIver, and their local MLA understand their concerns and why they are vehemently opposed to its approval in its present form.

He also encouraged councillors to engage their residents and inform them about their concerns about the loss of local government autonomy.

Mayor Dave McKenzie called it an unusual situation.

"The association that represents our interests now needs is asking direct lobbying support from us to help them lobby on our behalf," he said.

Coun. Rod Klumph shared ABMunis' concerns, especially about introducing political parties in municipal elections.

"Edmonton and Calgary are going to be the starting point, but it is a short step until it gets introduced to other municipalities," he said.

Unfortunately, Klumph said he thought there was nothing ABMunis or municipalities could do to stop the UCP from enacting the bill.

"I'm not sure how effective sending a letter will be, especially when we've already voiced our position [through ABMunis]," he said.

Coun. Dave Sawatzky also voiced his concern about the UCP politicizing municipal government by introducing political parties.

"The fact that they are trying to politicize the two metro-centres in our province and bring U.S.-style politics up here because they don't like the two governments elected in [Calgary and Edmonton] scares me because this is just another underhanded move by this provincial government to take away the rights of municipalities in doing business. We can't apply for funding from the federal government any more. It is just going to continue. They want control of everything."

He also shared Klumph's concern that the party system would eventually trickle down to smaller municipalities.

"It might not impact our rural municipality now, day to day, but who is to say what the future holds about this?" Sawatzky said. "If we don't voice our concerns and send that letter, we are guilty of not saying anything and stepping up."

Coun. Ty Assaf agreed, saying if they decided not to voice their concerns, it could snowball in that other municipalities would do the same.

"Then the government can say that 'the municipalities did not care, and [Bill 20] did not impact them," he said. "Even though we think the ink has dried, we must do something."

Coun. Don Smith said he finds the province's introduction of Bill 20 hypocritical.

"[Premier Danielle Smith] told the prime minister to stay in your lane, and she is doing the same thing to us now, telling us how to run our municipalities," he said.

Smith added he doesn't believe their letter and ones from what he believes will be dozens of other municipalities will change the premier's mind. 

"She's been made aware [of municipalities' opposition to the bill] numerous times at ABMunis' spring leaders conference, where multiple people said 'we don't want this,' but she just brushed it off. She's not listening for sure."

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com