The province’s review of the Municipal Government Act will included regional consultation sessions in 11 communities, including Red Deer.
The “provincewide conversation about how municipalities operate, grow, and develop” will take place over the next 12 weeks.
It began in Edmonton this week, and will eventually conclude in Peace River on April 25. A comprehensive website with online workbook and surveys is available to the public.
In each location, there will be sessions designed for specific stakeholders, including municipal elected officials and administrators, business and industry, the general public, and professionals who work closely with the legislation.
The consultation will focus on three key themes: assessment and taxation; governance and administration; and planning and development.
The Red Deer session is March 12 to 14 at the Harvest Centre at Westerner Park.
There are seven types of consultation sessions in Red Deer, each designed for different types of stakeholders and discussions.
The public open house session is on March 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The business and industry session on March 13 from 9 a.m. to noon is hosted for those who play a role in supporting the local economies.
There are three technical sessions intended for in-depth discussions of specific goals for the Municipal Government Act:
l The assessment and taxation technical session on March 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. is for stakeholders who are knowledgeable about municipal taxation and assessment processes to provide input on business competitiveness and support for municipalities as they fund the programs and services in their communities.
l The planning and development technical session on March 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. is designed for planning and development professionals and other stakeholders with technical expertise to focus on how municipalities undertake planning and manage growth in a sustainable way.
l The governance and administration technical session on March 12 from 10 a.m. to noon is planned for municipal professionals and other stakeholders who are well versed in municipal governance to provide input on how municipalities are governed and administered.
The municipal elected officials session on March 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the municipal administrators session on March 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. are workshops for elected officials and those who play a role in supporting the operations of municipalities to provide input.
Albertans who are unable to attend any of the regional consultation sessions can participate in a variety of other ways, including online surveys and workbooks.
“Municipalities play a vital role in supporting safe, prosperous and vibrant communities across Alberta. As Alberta continues to grow, this is an ideal opportunity to modernize the legislation that governs municipalities to reflect the changing needs of our communities. We welcome input from all Albertans on how we can continue to build strong communities into the future,” said Municipal Affairs Minister Ken Hughes.
Both the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties are involved in the consultation process.
To register for sessions, get more contact information, or more information about the Municipal Government Act and the review, go to mgareview.alberta.ca.