Alberta Municipalities speaks out against Bill 20

Wetaskiwin mayor Tyler Gandam didn’t mince words Monday afternoon when talking to media about the implications of Bill 20.

The proposed legislation announced last week by the UCP government would allow political parties at the local level in Calgary and Edmonton as a pilot project and would give the government far-reaching powers to remove elected municipal officials as well as overturn bylaws by confidential cabinet decisions.

Gandam, president of Alberta Municipalities, which represents 265 member communities and 85 per cent of Alberta’s population, called the bill an attempt by premier Danielle Smith to centralize, strengthen and tighten her hold on power and pit neighbour against neighbour.

“At it’s heart, Bill 20 does not improve the lives of Albertans, it does not build up our province nor does it make our easier for our communities to grow in unity and harmony. It will set neighbours against each other, it will keep local elected officials constantly second-guessing the best decisions for their communities and impede the progress of our villages, towns and cities,” he said.

The government proposed Bill 20 despite knowing more than 70 per of Albertans are opposed to partisan politics in municipal affairs, he said.

And Gandam said the bill could silence politicians critical of government out of fear they would lose their jobs.

Gandam said the province has grown with a sense of community which means working together to the benefit of all and Bill 20 threatens that community.

He said people from across Canada and around the world flock to Alberta for a better life but the sense of community in the province is now threatened.

“The bill has already created an atmosphere in which some of our members are fearing repercussions if they disagree openly with the provincial government,” he said.

ABMunis feels “Bill 20 is an attempt by the provincial government to grab more power and wield more control over how people choose to live in their own communities,” he said.

“Bill 20 will fundamentally redraw the blueprint of our local democracy and alter how peoples’ local needs are met and who represents them. Bill 20 sets a dangerous precedent for future provincial governments of all political stripes. The bill reduces the autonomy and authority of a recognized order of government,” Gandam said.

He added it undermines the power of local voters and ABMunis is concerned the bill will intimidate and silence legally elected officials who dare to criticize the provincial government.

“If passed, Bill 20 will allow corporations and unions to fund candidates of their choice. Each corporation and union will be able to donate up to $5,000 to an individual candidate. The bill does almost nothing to improve transparency regarding financial transparency to individual candidates and the money being raised and spent by third-party advertisers,” he said.

Independent candidates risk being outspent and “drowned out” by party candidates who have the financial backing of corporations and unions, he said, adding if the bill passes in its current

form, local government elections will be about what influential corporations and unions want and not what voters want, he said.

“Essentially, Bill 20 puts local governments up to sale to the highest bidder,” Gandam said bluntly.

“The possibility of locally elected officials being removed at any time for any reason is deeply unsettling and likely to have a chilling effect on councillors who might otherwise speak out against the provincial government,” he said, noting local residents will lose because good ideas contrary to government will be squashed.

“Sound financial investments in the

community’s interest will be stalled by partisan bickering and the needs of a community will be overridden in favour of the needs of the corporations and unions who donate the most money. This is not how we build communities in Alberta, he added.

Who stands to benefit, he asked of the bill.

The reasons for the bill, he said, “have been flimsy,” noting AB Munis doesn’t see how it will makes local elections more transparent, free or fair.

“Local government decisions are made in public, contrasted with Bill 20 in which cabinet decisions to dismiss and repeal will be done in secret.”