Councils ordered to play nice

New Municipal Government Act provides code of ethics

Alberta’s new municipal government rules should reduce conflicts.

But they still don’t protect homeowners and city planners from unwanted drilling by energy companies.

That’s the verdict from Mayor Chris Spearman, following the provincial government’s proclamation of some final sections of the new Municipal Government Act, earlier this week.

Some of the updates include parental leave for council members, on-the-job training for council members, and an ombudsman with oversight of the province’s city, town, county and rural municipal councils.

The new law also provides a code of ethics for elected officials, Spearman points out, and an oath of council conduct. That could result in fewer divisions among councillors in some communities, he adds.

“We know some councils have become dysfunctional.”

The new Act also calls for greater collaboration and co-operation between neighbouring jurisdictions, Spearman adds.

While some cities have been at odds with their rural colleagues — Red Deer’s “Gasoline Alley” has been a flashpoint — city and county officials here work together on a number of fronts.

Promoting the airport is one of those projects, Spearman says, but there are many areas of cooperation.

“We also have an inter-municipal plan,” that’s updated to meet new situations. “We have to keep on working on it.” Legislated changes also encourage ongoing collaboration with neighbouring First Nations communities.

“We recently held a council-to-council meeting with the Blood chief and council.”

The city has also highlighted the relationship, the mayor says, by flying the Blackfoot Confederacy flag as well as the new “reconciliation” flag at city hall.

What the new legislation lacks, Spearman says, is any powers for elected officials to stop oil and gas companies from drilling inside city limits. After widespread public protest several years ago, a Calgary company backed away from plans to drill several exploratory wells within sight of the city’s westside schools and the new leisure centre.

“We feel our planning should not be disrupted” by the energy industry, with councils having no right to veto a scheme that’s been approved by industry regulators.

That’s a resolution that 85 per cent of the delegates to an Alberta Urban Municipalities Association agreed with, Spearman points out, when Lethbridge brought the issue to an AUMA conference.

Mayors and councillors also pointed out that urban areas cover just two per cent of the province’s geography — leaving plenty for the energy companies to work with.

As the legislation is written, the mayor adds, Medicine Hat — “the gas city” — does have the right to decide where drillers or energy companies are allowed to operate. “We would like the same rights.” Lethbridge will continue to press for that amendment to the new law, he says. Follow @DMabellHerald on Twitter