Alberta NDP Chief Naheed Nenshi says the federal government’s proposed invoice to wipe out municipal councils’ codes of conduct might create a free-for-all of delinquency and grift.
“This invoice is an affront to native voters. It principally says to native voters, ‘We don’t belief you,’” Nenshi informed reporters on the legislature Wednesday.
Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver proposed the invoice in the home Tuesday.
He mentioned the change needed to be made as a result of codes of conduct had been being weaponized to silence dissent on municipal councils.
“This doesn’t imply councils may have free rein to misbehave,” McIver mentioned.
“It means we’d like a greater, extra neutral system to cope with conduct points, one that may’t be misused for political achieve or private rivalry.”
However Nenshi, a former Calgary mayor, mentioned the message to Albertans is that with six months to go earlier than native elections, there might quickly be no guidelines governing the behaviour of municipal councillors and mayors.
“It’s the Wild West on the market. Municipal officers will have the ability to do something they need with no disclosure and no repercussions, and I feel most municipal officers will say that’s a rare infringement on the rights of councils to have the ability to self-discipline their very own members,” he mentioned.
On Tuesday, McIver mentioned present guardrails for extreme misconduct stay in place, together with provincial laws that prohibits spending cash outdoors accepted budgets, and Canada’s Prison Code, which governs legal battle of curiosity guidelines.
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All of it comes after the UCP handed a regulation final yr that made sweeping adjustments to municipal elections, together with permitting for political events – however solely in Edmonton and Calgary.
Nenshi mentioned the most recent proposed invoice is a part of an try by the United Conservative authorities to slant elections in Alberta’s greatest cities in favour of conservative candidates.
“It’s not going to work. Voters are a lot, a lot smarter than that,” mentioned Nenshi.
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek mentioned Tuesday eradicating the foundations that maintain elected officers accountable “doesn’t simply have an effect on the interior workings of council but additionally impacts public belief and confidence in how our metropolis is ruled.”
These representing elected municipal leaders throughout the province have additionally weighed in.
Kara Westerlund, president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and Tyler Gandam, president of Alberta Municipalities, have mentioned they agree with McIver that codes of conduct have change into an issue in some circumstances.
For that cause, Westerlund mentioned many rural leaders will welcome the change. Nevertheless, she mentioned the complete repeal might make it difficult to stem dangerous behaviour within the quick time period given the looming elections.
As an alternative of municipalities establishing their very own guidelines, the invoice would see McIver’s ministry create normal council assembly procedures throughout the province, pending consultations.
Within the meantime, Westerlund mentioned “councils shall be left in limbo” to cope with a problem on their very own.
“There’s undoubtedly going to be some challenges transferring ahead, however we stay optimistic,” she mentioned in an interview.
Additionally tucked into McIver’s newest invoice is a requirement forcing the disclosure of occasion donations a month earlier than the Oct. 20 municipal elections. McIver mentioned that corrects an “oversight” in final yr’s laws.
Although adjustments to native political occasion monetary reporting in McIver’s invoice gained’t have an effect on rural municipalities this time round, Westerlund mentioned her members stay staunchly against the thought of including political events to the combo.
“I imagine there shall be pushback from us over 4 years for that to not occur,” she mentioned.
McIver’s invoice, if handed, would additionally make clear definitions and process for when two neighbouring municipalities must strike a cost-sharing deal on initiatives like recreation centres.
“We’re extraordinarily joyful, dancing from the rooftop with the adjustments which can be coming to that course of,” mentioned Westerlund.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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