Edmonton Journal

Opposition vows hard fight over 'draconian' regional planning law

Thu Oct 31 2013 Page: A5 Section: Alberta Byline: Mariam Ibrahim Source: Edmonton Journal Illustrations: / Danielle Smith;

Premier Alison Redford defended a new municipal governance bill as opposition critics slammed it as a "draconian" law that removes local autonomy and gives the province the power to jail mayors and reeves. Bill 28, the Modernizing Regional Governance Act, was introduced to the legislature Monday and gives the province the power to create regional growth boards such as the Capital Region Board, formed in April 2008. That 24-member board is responsible for co-ordinating regional issues in the Edmonton area and, under the new bill, will become an official body under the Municipal Government Act. Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson applauded the government for making the regulations governing the Capital Region Board into law. "There's still broad latitude for us to define how we want to work together. There is still lots of room to negotiate and create for ourselves in the Edmonton region the kind of future that we want to design together," Iveson said. Opposition parties cried foul though, saying it gives the province unprecedented power over local decisionmaking that extends beyond the capital region. Infomart

"It strips local municipalities of power and it has some of the most draconian provisions I've ever seen," Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said Wednesday, vowing to fight the legislation "tooth and nail." Redford, responding to Smith in the legislature during question period, said the new bill will "change the relationship between municipalities and the provincial government for the better." Smith accused the government of trying to sneak the legislation past newly elected councils and mayors "while they're not looking." The legislation appears to expand government's power over regional planning, giving the province authority to designate which municipalities become members of regional boards. It also gives Redford's cabinet the power to appoint the board's chair, determine its mandate and the voting rights of participating municipalities. The boards are responsible for creating a growth plan for the region, but the new bill gives government the power to determine the plan's objectives, contents, timelines, form and effect. The minister of municipal affairs also has final say on any decisions and, under the act, mayors or reeves that fail to provide information requested by the board can be fined up to $10,000, sent to jail for up to Page 1

one year, or both. Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths said the new act mirrors what already existed under the Capital Region Board regulations and that, while it includes potential punishments, they've never been used before. "They have obligations to each other so there are fines and penalties in there. None of them have ever had to be used because they all work very well together," Griffiths said. He said municipalities weren't consulted over the legislation because "nothing has changed." Alberta NDP municipal affairs critic Deron Bilous criticized the bill as "paternalistic." Earlier this week, Griffiths said that while the legislation could potentially be use to force fighting municipalities to work together, he expected it will only be used when communities decide among themselves that they want a regional growth board. mibrahim@edmontonjournal.com Twitter.com/mariamdena

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