Advisory services for municipalities

Overview

Advisory services are provided to municipal administration and councillors on a variety of issues and topics related to the application of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), the Local Authorities Election Act, and other provincial legislation under the responsibility of Municipal Affairs.

These services include:

• telephone and email advisory support
• advisory visits for new municipal administrators
• advisory visits on specific issues or matters
• training workshops
• Municipal Accountability Program (MAP)
• municipal inspections
• mediation and other dispute resolution support

Training for municipal administrators and elected officials is available throughout the year for the following topic areas:

• assessment, taxation and tax recovery
• dispute resolution
• financial reporting
• intermunicipal collaboration frameworks
• municipal elections
• procedures, bylaws, agendas and minutes
• roles and responsibilities for elected officials and administrators
• subdivision and development appeal board administration

Information about training opportunities can be found on the Training for Municipal Officials page.

Municipal corporate reviews

A municipal corporate review may be offered upon the request of council, and may be customized to accommodate specific needs of council and administration.

It is a voluntary and co-operative process to review and discuss the governance, administration and financial management of a municipality with the objective of evaluating strengths and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Municipal Accountability Program (MAP)

MAP reviews are a multi-year process, ordered by the Minister under section 571 of the MGA.

MAP promotes an environment supportive of accountable, well-managed local governments.

Its purpose is to assist municipalities with their knowledge of mandatory legislated requirements under the MGA, aid municipalities in achieving legislative compliance with the MGA and other legislation under the purview of Municipal Affairs and to provide a collaborative partnership between the ministry and municipalities.

MAP is mandatory for municipalities with populations of 2,500 or less and may be offered to any municipality upon council request, if approved by the Minister.

Municipal inspections

A municipal inspection may be initiated at the Minister’s discretion, by request of council, or in response to a sufficient petition in accordance with the authority provided to the Minister in the MGA.

The scope of the inspection may include any matter pertaining to the management, administration, or operation of the municipality or any assessment prepared under Part 9 (Property Assessment).

A municipal inspection report is published following the completion of each municipal inspection. Inspection reports are published on the Municipal Inspection Reports page.

Contact

Connect with the Capacity Building Unit at Alberta Municipal Affairs:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-2225
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]