Alberta Proposes Universal Code of Conduct for Municipal Councils

0:00It's March 27. You're listening to Canada News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Cory with the story. The Alberta government is proposing a single universal code of conduct for all local municipal councils across the province. This comes after they repealed individual municipal codes last year, saying those were sometimes misused as tools to quiet dissenting voices. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams announced the plan at a news conference on Thursday, claiming to set clear rules and boost public trust. The new set of would use independent third party investigators picked by municipalities from a provincial list to handle complaints. An appeal process would involve a commissioner appointed by the province, and municipalities would pay for most investigations, except those started. By the province itself, the province could also launch its own probes and override appeal decisions if needed. Local leaders have mixed but mostly positive reactions. Alberta Municipality's President Dylan Bressie welcomes the third party help, as it takes

1:00the tough investigative work off local staff. Minister Williams points to recent council clashes, like those in Chester, Mary, and Medicine hat, as signs of eroding civility in politics. NDP leader, Nahid Nenshi, calls for tougher penalties beyond just sideline and counselors from committees. Penalties would mirror past ones, such as cutting a politician's duties, with removal from council only in extreme cases via court referral. The code's details are still being drafted with input from municipal leaders. Alongside this, the changes include a sunshine list requiring public disclosure of higher municipal staff salaries. Legislation heads to the legislature soon, with rules expected by years end to standardize conduct province-wide.