Re: ABmunis makes a case against Bill 20

Dear Editor, 

Alberta Municipalities president Tyler Gandam in speaking against Alberta Bill 20 rightly expressed concerns of being subject to “backroom cabinet decisions made without public scrutiny or accountability”.

It is always a concern to be subject to unilateral and secret government action.

For municipal rate payers treated in this same way as is happening now to Winnifred rate payers in the County of Forty Mile, Bill 20 appears to offer a remedy.

I expect the provincial government would provide to these rate payers that were denied due process and accountability by their county council an unbiased and well informed position that would enforce provincially required “public scrutiny and accountability” standards.

Mr. Gandam chastises the provincial government suggesting Bill 20 is a power grab and admonishes the provincial government to “stay in your own lane”.

Mr. Gandem and his organization need to recognize that municipal governments are a wholly captured entity of the provincial government by virtue of the Municipal Government Act and it is the mandate of the provincial government to ensure that all Alberta residents receive comparable and equitable services no matter where they reside in this province.

This is their lane.

I believe, rather than using Bill 20 to micro-manage a municipal council’s every action the provincial government would intercede to ensure provincial minimum standards of conduct from all councillors and councils.

The municipal order of government is an instrument of the provincial government to facilitate the deliverance of services to the populace.

The Alberta government delegates authority to carry out its functions such as roads, schools, public works, etc. But it is the province that sets the standard and retains the authority to set policy for the entire province.

The solution for municipal governments concerned with the provincial government stepping in is simple: operate within the parameters set by cabinet, such as accountability and transparency standards.

Eric Musekamp, 

Bow Island