Municipal Government Act Review
The Municipal Government Act (MGA)
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) is one of Alberta's largest pieces of legislation and helps guide how our municipalities operate.
This 500-page act governs 349 municipalities across the province; from a summer village with a population of 10, to a big city such as Edmonton with a population of almost 900,000. The Act focuses on three areas:
- Governance and Administration:
How municipalities make decisions
(for example: the role of municipal councils, the role of municipal administration) - Assessment and Taxation:
How municipal services are paid for
(for example: property assessments, property taxes, taxation exemptions) - Planning and Development:
How municipalities build and grow
(for example: land use planning, planning decisions and appeals, environmental considerations)
What the Government of Alberta is Doing
In 2014, the Government of Alberta embarked on a province-wide consultation process to seek feedback on the MGA from interested citizens and stakeholders. This is the first comprehensive review of the MGA since 1994.
In March 2015, Bill 20, the Municipal Government Amendment Act, was given approval by the Alberta Legislature. This was the first of what will be a series of changes to modernize the MGA in order to better equip communities with the tools needed to meet today's challenges.
In the summer of 2016, the Government of Alberta is asking for further input into the final changes being proposed for the MGA. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs will be travelling across the province, including a stop in Edmonton, to gather the ideas of Albertans.
The City of Edmonton encourages interested residents to learn more about the Government of Alberta’s review process, and the planned next steps.
Important City of Edmonton Considerations
A new MGA should support the City of Edmonton’s Strategic Plan, The Way Ahead, and complement current efforts to create Big City Charters that recognizes the more complex and unique needs of Edmonton and Calgary.
In order to ensure Albertans receive the best services possible, within a stronger and more prosperous Alberta, the new MGA should:
- not take a one-size-fits-all approach to serving all of Alberta’s municipalities (this approach does not support the more complex and unique needs of big cities).
- recognize the already high standards of responsibility and accountability that big cities demonstrate.
- complement efforts between the City of Edmonton, City of Calgary and Government of Alberta to create City Charters.
- support municipalities by providing them with predictable funding and the financial tools needed to be more fiscally sustainable over the long term.
- enable regional approaches that result in orderly development and equitable distribution of the benefits and costs associated with growth of regional significance.
- provide municipalities with increased flexibility and support role clarity needed to respond to local needs.
- remove restrictions that prevent municipalities from being more effective and efficient in how they collaborate, engage and support their local decision-making processes.
- leverage the unique abilities of larger urban centres to help establish best practices and drive economic growth through higher levels of autonomy.
What the City of Edmonton is Doing
In June 2014, the City of Edmonton's submission to the Government of Alberta was formally approved by City Council. The submission identifies the more complex and unique needs of Edmonton and outlines 27 high-level recommended changes to the MGA.
The City will continue to participate in the Government of Alberta's review process as future opportunities arise to help advance and support Edmonton's interests.
For More Information
Avril McCalla
| Title | Senior Policy Advisor, Intergovernmental & External Affairs |
|---|---|
| Telephone | 780-423-5220 |
| Avril.McCalla@edmonton.ca |
