Alberta's Bill 28: Major Changes to Libraries, Municipal Rules, and Taxes

0:00It's April 2, from your city to your ears. This is Candida News today, powered by AI. Alberta's government just introduced Bill 28, the Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act, packing major tweaks to libraries. Municipal rules and taxes. Minister Dan Williams tabled it Thursday morning, aiming to boost provincial oversight while curbing certain local powers. From public libraries, the Bill lest the Minister launch reviews or handle complaints, even for school ones, building on rules against pornographic, content. They'll issue guidelines for physical separation of sensitive materials, requiring parental approval for kids 15 and under to access them. No books get yanked though, regs are coming soon. Meanwhile, it's rolling out a mandatory province-wide code of conduct for all municipal councils, placing the local versions Alberta ditched last. April over misuse. Complaints about asset abuse, leaks, threats, or influence peddling go to province-approved

1:02third party investigators with the Minister able to step in. The Bill slams the door on vacant home taxes, calling them unfair penalties on owners, despite cities like Vancouver and Toronto using them to fight shortages. Candimor's version just survived court challenges, but Alberta says no more. Tax bills will now spotlight RCMP policing costs sent to Ottawa as Minister Williams pushes transparency on federal hits to local ratepayers. This omnibus move reshapes municipal game, with changes rolling out if it passes.