Municipalities get polite nudge
New measures from province aim for co-operation without hard legislation
One could call this the provincial nudging act.
The New Democrats introduced a third set of updates Monday to the Municipal Government Act , but on several key points, the legislation does more to nudge municipalities into co-operation and equitable behaviour than legislate.
The changes encourage, for example, municipalities to voluntarily work with First Nations reserves or Métis settlements on their borders. The only mandatory step is to put a copy of any new statutory land use plan in the mail.
Municipal Affairs Minister Shaye Anderson calls that “a first step.”
Extending notifications to First Nations means at least “people know what’s going on,” Anderson said. The province did mandate co-operation agreements between adjacent municipalities, but “First Nations are a federal jurisdiction, so we can’t force them to do something like that.”
On parental leave for elected officials, the story is the same. The changes will allow each municipality to write its own parental leave policy, if it so chooses. There are no minimum standards.
Currently, councils can grant colleagues an extended leave of absence, but only on a case-by-case basis. Candidates can’t know what to expect when they run for office.
The new policy recognizes the challenges of time off will be different for each municipality, said Anderson, hoping to encourage more young women to run for municipal office. Currently, 23 per cent of towns and cities have no female representation at all on councils.
When it comes to the environment, the province will list environmental well-being as one factor a municipality can consider as it governs. But again, it’s a suggestion, not a requirement.
“They have their local autonomy as well,” said Anderson. “We’re encouraging (municipalities to consider environmental well-being). We want to make sure it’s out there and people are thinking about it.”
Joseph Jobin, chief operating officer with the Treaty 8 First Nations, said some municipalities don’t notify adjacent First Nations when making decisions that affect them. Provincial law currently exempts them from a duty to consult, he said, adding he hopes further work with Alberta Indigenous Relations will broaden the requirements.
In Edmonton, Coun. Bev Esslinger celebrated the new ability to set parental leave policies, and said the city should start consultations for its policy as soon as possible.
But gender equality consultant Cristina Stasia worried about the lack of guidance. A generous parental leave policy could lead to fewer women elected, she said. Voters will worry they won’t stick around for the job.
Other countries have found discrimination only stops when fathers also take time off, she said. That means “just leaving municipalities to do this could have a negative impact when the intentions are so positive.”
The updates introduced Monday will also:
Let cities charge developers for upgrades to nearby provincial highway connections while planning a new subdivision.
Give the minister more flexibility when responding to citizen complaints about a municipality. Previously, the minister’s only option after an investigation for mismanagement was to dismiss some or all of the council or the chief administrative officer. Now the minister will be able to write municipal bylaws or withhold grants.
Require school boards and municipalities to make joint planning agreements around schools sites.