March 7, 2018
This Week
Member RFDs up for discussion at Municipal Leaders’ Caucus

Members will have the chance to discuss and vote on Requests for Decisions (RFDs) on waste reduction during next week’s Municipal Leaders’ Caucus. 

This year AUMA received two submissions:
  • Strathcona County submitted an RFD on Amendments required for provincial recycling regulations
  • The City of Calgary submitted an RFD on Legislation for the implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) in Alberta
Webinar recording: The Municipal Role in Licensing Cannabis Retailers

AUMA and AAMDC recently hosted Robert Pape, Director of Compliance with the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC), at a webinar that provided a short overview of the newly released cannabis regulation and applicant requirements for provincially issued retail cannabis store licenses.
Happening Now
AUMA analysis of completed Municipal Government Act regulations released

AUMA has released a working analysis of Municipal Government Act (MGA) regulations that were finalized on October 27, 2017. Developed with extensive input from AUMA committees, the analysis notes ongoing priority issues regarding the assessment and taxation of cannabis grow operations, the determination of shadow populations, and subdivision referrals to Alberta Transportation.
Public Review: Climate Change Adaption for Wastewater Treatment Plants
 
The draft new standard (CSA S900.1), Climate Change Adaptation for Wastewater Treatment Plants, is now posted for public review for a 60-day period ending on April 22, 2018. Comments can only be accepted via the website and it will be closing by midnight Eastern Standard Time. 
In Your Community
Libraries are encouraged to talk about reconciliation

Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are still all too often strangers to each other, but a new initiative is supporting libraries across Canada to create a safe space for the two communities to meet, interact and dialogue with each other. 
Show your support against racial discrimination with #ItStartsWithMe campaign

March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and CCUNESCO is launching a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about racism and discrimination and what Canadians can do to eliminate it. 
Reminder: complete the U of A survey on land use tools 

Alberta municipalities are invited to contribute to a University of Alberta research project regarding land use tools, governance adaptations, and long-term perspectives by completing a confidential survey . 
Tools and Resources for Municipalities
Councillor Code of Conduct

The new Councillor Code of Conduct: A Guide for Municipalities, is a tool to help municipalities develop their local codes of conduct.
Public Participation and Public Notification

The new Public Participation and Public Notification: A Guide for Municipalities is a tool to help develop public participation policies and a public notification bylaw. 
Asset Management Workshops for Elected Officials

AUMA and AAMDC, with support from Infrastructure and Asset Management Alberta (IAMA), are excited to bring you asset management workshops for elected officials and senior administration.

Asset Management for Elected Officials: The Strategic Basics: This full-day workshop is offered in locations around the province and is open to elected officials and CAOs.

March 27 - Calgary area
March 29 - Lethbridge area
April 11 - Grande Prairie area
April 17 - Lloydminster area

Register for these and other workshops at auma.ca/events
Casual Legal Article
Push it to the limit: time frames for bylaw prosecutions

Bylaw offences are an important mechanism for enforcing bylaws. When a defendant to a bylaw offence chooses to fight a violation ticket instead of paying it, a municipality will need to prosecute it like any other provincial offence and a number of technical issues can come up. One of those issues has to do with the time limit that a violation ticket can be served and the content of that violation ticket. 

Note: Casual legal articles are available to members only. You must log in to read the full article. If you do not have an account, simply sign up today .
Events

Reminder: Register for the RhPAP 2018 Rural Community Conference
The RhPAP Rural Community Attraction and Retention Conference takes place April 11 & 12 in Brooks.

Find events, webinars, and more on the Events page on the AUMA website .
Attention elected officials, CAOs, and municipal staff

Subscribe today and receive your own copy of the weekly AUMA/AMSC Digest of Announcements newsletter
News Clippings
Economy, Economic Development and Tourism
  • Jobs up, deficit down: Ceci says NDP fiscal strategy is 'paying off'
  • Steel tariffs a concern in Alberta
  • Alberta government losing billions of dollars in oil revenue annually: report
  • Plant taxes in Hat’s favour: mayor
  • City ponders 2nd year of tax relief for businesses as Calgary Chamber of Commerce calls for longer-term fixes
 
Energy
  • Energy rebate expansion helps food services sector
  • North West Refining withdrawing proposal to expand Sturgeon Refinery – for now
  • Railroad tie gasification plant considered for Brooks
 
Environment
  • Council supports Calgary push for legislation
  • Legal action launched against logging operation in Kananaskis Country
  • Alberta issues environmental protection order for decades-old gas leak at Sears North Hill
  • Farmers struggling with 'lack of options' will look to recycle plastic instead of burning it
  • Cities will drive action on climate change, Edmonton council told ahead of international conference
  • Alberta used to 'hide' from climate conferences, now hosts them: Environment minister
  • Province to hold public session on caribou plan

Infrastructure and Transportation
  • Edmonton to host Canada's first smart network for vehicles

Indigenous Relations
  • Edmonton mayor, Alberta finance minister applaud 'long overdue' funding for Indigenous communities
  • Alberta government moves closer to apology for Sixties Scoop
 
Intergovernmental Relations
  • Liberal minister argues federal budget doesn't ignore Alberta
  • Cannabis, TransMountain, expected to dominate Alberta’s spring legislative session
  • Calgary Regional Partnership dissolves
  • Carbon tax threatens rural non-profits in Alberta, critics warn
 
Municipal Governance
  • Edmonton lifts one-year moratorium on MMA & boxing just over two months after implementation
  • City is disappointed in federal budget’s lack of direct reference to municipal priorities
  • Nobleford officially becomes a town
  • Town of Millet council rejects AUMA police pay proposal
  • At City Hall: Short delay for integrity commissioner
  • Council opposed to proposed police funding model
  • Goudy appointed as Lacombe's new CAO
  • Council briefs: updated emergency management plan approved
  • Council briefs: false alarms increase for fire department
  • Ruling against city offers lesson for west LRT expropriation: lawyer
  • City seeks bond manager for $100M reserve
  • Town of Canmore says it followed procedure in ticketing homeowner for vacation rental listing
 
Safe and Healthy Communities
  • As rural crime soars, residents go to desperate measures to protect their property
  • Wildfire exercise helps prepare Alberta officials
  • Edmonton becomes first city in Alberta to partner with MedicAlert to help vulnerable people
  • Many frustrated with rural crime
  • Red Deer doctors join forces to demand province boost hospital funding
  • Lethbridge police review of 'street checks' leads to more training, annual reports on practice
  • Fire services in outlying areas a hot potato for Calgary city councillors
  • Despite aging infrastructure, Nanton’s health centre meets current needs, says AHS
  • Person crimes named as a local police priority
 
Occupational Health and Safety
  • Alberta's top court upholds injunction against drug testing of Suncor workers
  • Northern Alberta fire chief reaches out to rural crews about mental health
  • City of Edmonton pleads guilty to 2015 workplace death
 
Marijuana/Cannabis
  • Resources for municipalities to police pot
  • Town plans for provincial cannabis legalization
  • Alberta's private retail model lures cannabis retailer to Edmonton

Opioid Crisis
  • Budget offers City hope with opioid crisis
  • Alberta government, Opposition clash on ethics of safe drug consumption sites
  • Grande Prairie Alberta’s worst city for fatal opioid overdoses
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