'This is a huge mistake': Bill 20 rules on local political parties revealed
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Alberta municipalities are getting their first look at new rules around local political parties and how they will be funded – and they don't like what they see.
Alberta municipalities are getting their first look at new rules around local political parties and how they will be funded – and they don't like what they see.
Details of the province's new Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, or Bill 20, were being revealed Friday, two weeks before the legislation comes into effect.
The bill, which has been heavily criticized by Alberta municipal leaders, makes changes to the Municipal Government Act and the Local Authorities Election Act.
Those changes include allowing political parties on local ballots in Calgary and Edmonton and province-wide changes to expense limits.
Rural Municipalities Alberta (RMA) and Alberta Municipalities, which represent the vast majority of the province's municipalities, both expressed disappointment with the final details after consulting with the province.
"The changes that we would like to have seen made aren't reflected," said Alberta Municipalities president Tyler Gandam.
"We're just wondering where or what the problem was that they're trying to fix, because we weren't aware of any that required this kind of legislation."
