“Municipalities need a positive partnership with the provincial government and long-range planning to meet their priorities. At the same time, local leaders need to be free from endless provincial mandates and red tape that can result in duplication, waste, and frustration. The United Conservatives know that there are times when the provincial government needs to support and fund local services and projects, while understanding that there are times when the provincial government needs to get out of the way and empower communities to decide what is best for themselves.”
A United Conservative government will:
- Maintain dollars promised to municipalities for 2019-20 and Bill 32 Charters for Calgary and Edmonton.
- Ensure predictable, long-term infrastructure funding for municipalities.
- Maintain key infrastructure commitments in the province’s capital plan, such as LRT extensions in Calgary and Edmonton.
- Amend the MGA to allow municipalities to offer property tax incentives to attract investment and development.
- Work with municipalities to facilitate pre-approved industrial zones to streamline regulatory approvals and decision-making.
- Consult with municipalities on the province’s funding formula for police services, including any burden imposed on local law enforcement resulting from the recent legalization of cannabis.
- Cut provincial regulation and paperwork for Alberta’s cities and allow municipalities to pass on those savings to taxpayers.
- Improve local government financial reporting by preparing an annual Alberta Municipalities Measurement Index so Albertans can evaluate the performance of their local government in comparison with others on such key fiscal indicators as the property tax burden, revenues, spending, and debt.
- Amend the Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act (s.89) to give municipalities more flexibility to permit responsible adults to drink alcohol in parks, street festivals, or other areas – and begin with relaxing liquor constraints in a number of provincial parks.
- Immediately relax Alberta Gaming Liquor Commission regulations that require enclosed events like folk festivals to keep those having a drink within unreasonably narrow zones.
