Engaging in the development of provincial legislation

Municipalities, along with their residents and businesses, are governed and impacted by many provincial laws. It is important for a municipality’s elected officials and administrators to understand the legislative process in order to recognize opportunities to influence the process, and to stay informed on the progression and timing of anticipated legislative changes.

The new government’s second legislative session started on October 8, 2019, which makes this the opportune time to review the process by which a proposed law becomes legislation. A proposed law starts out as a bill. To read about the life cycle of a government bill, please click here.

Municipal officials and administrators can influence the development of provincial legislation by contacting:

• Local MLAs about issues affecting their ridings;
• Ministers about matters related to their departments;
• Ministers’ staff or department staff (e.g. Deputy Minster, Assistant Deputy Minister, program delivery staff), especially when concerns relate to a department’s policies and procedures; and
• AUMA about priority issues affecting municipalities across the province.

AUMA advocates for provincial legislation that is the most beneficial for municipalities and monitors the development and amendment of legislation to advise on potential future impacts. AUMA is the unified voice of Alberta's municipalities when engaging the provincial government in discussions on proposed laws or requested changes to existing legislation.

Stay tuned to the Digest and visit AUMA’s website to stay up to date on our advocacy efforts. Please contact an AUMA Board member or Advocacy staff to submit comments or concerns about proposed or existing provincial legislation, or to find out what legislation our Advocacy team is currently focusing on.