Alberta government moves to eliminate municipal codes of conduct
CBC
Alberta Municipal Affairs minister Ric McIver introduced a new bill Tuesday that would automatically repeal all municipal codes of conduct as soon as it is proclaimed into law.
Bill 50, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, proposes changes to three existing laws: Local Authorities Election Act, the Municipal Government Act, and the New Home Buyer Protection Act.
Amendments to the Municipal Government Act in early 2015 compelled municipal councils across Alberta to pass codes of conduct by 2018.
But McIver said they have since become a tool for councillors to target other members of council.
"Most municipalities get along just fine and behave well and serve their citizens without a whole bunch of interpersonal drama," he said at a news conference Tuesday.
"But there's been more than enough instances of people using the bylaws as weapons, weaponizing them, if you will, and they're trying to silence people that disagree with them that are on council."
McIver is proposing an external third party, like an ethics or integrity commissioner, become the arbiter of breaches but he wants to consult with municipalities first.
Such a change would also relieve the chief administrative officers of municipalities of the responsibility of having to resolve disputes.
McIver said the current situation puts these officials in an awkward position because they are hired, evaluated and can be fired by councillors.
"It's not a fair position to put them in," he said. "So we're going to try to fix that too."
Other measures in the bill include a change that would allow municipal political parties to share campaign funding with their candidates and compel them to disclose their donors before election day in October.
The bill also proposes a temporary measure to allow Jasper residents to vote or run in the municipal election even while they are displaced by last summer's wildfire.
The government plans to keep these amendments in place for the fall municipal election and through 2026 just in case there is a byelection. The provision is to expire by Dec. 31, 2026.
The proposal to eliminate municipal codes of conduct follows some high-profile cases where councillors used the rules against another council member.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Bob Byrnes has been in business in Stephenville for decades, and once served on the board of the non-profit corporation that used to run the airport.
It looks like your average rock on the picturesque shoreline of Lake Nipissing, but beneath the surface lies a contentious property dispute that now involves the local township, surveyors, and a nonprofit organization.
Nova Scotia's farming industry hasn't turned a profit in nearly a decade, and last year lost more than $41 million — a reflection of the economic challenges that are concerning industry leaders in the province.
When the William Mitton Covered Bridge in Riverview was torn down last winter, many were heartbroken.
Transit users are adjusting their commutes Monday as maintenance workers with Montreal's transit authority launch a week-long strike.
The first indication that it's not business as usual at La Ronge docket court is that it's taking place at the provincial courthouse in Saskatoon.
Chief Conroy Sewepagaham of Little Red River Cree Nation points to ground zero — the spot where the wildfire started two years ago.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats general manager Ted Goveia says he has been diagnosed with "a serious form of cancer that's spread."
Ontario's chief medical officer of health says six infants have been born with congenital measles since an outbreak began last fall, adding they were infected in the womb through mothers who were not vaccinated.
EDITOR'S NOTE: CBC News commissioned this public opinion research to be conducted immediately following the federal election and leading into the second anniversary of the United Conservative Party's provincial election win in May 2023. As with all polls, this one provides a snapshot in time. This analysis is one in a series of articles from this research.
Marlee Liss still remembers how dehumanizing it felt to sit through the preliminary trial of the man accused of sexually assaulting her, disturbed by how she was treated while testifying, as she answered a series of invasive questions.
Supporting local tourism is a high priority for many Canadians this summer, and a farm in Bright, Ont., has found a low "steaks" way to draw visitors.
The First Nations group L'nuey and Parks Canada are looking for board members to help co-manage P.E.I.'s protected lands and historic sites, taking the next step on an agreement they have spent years crafting.