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Part of Municipal collaboration and mediation

Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks

Agreements addressing how municipalities with shared boundaries collaborate to provide intermunicipal services to their residents.

Important update

With the coming into force of Municipal Affairs Statues Amendment Act, 2025, municipalities must engage in discussions with their neighbouring municipalities to review their Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) and ensure that it includes the mandatory services included in Section 708.29.

This review is to be completed by the term of review deadline set in the initial framework or no later than March 31, 2027, as provided for in Ministerial Order MSD: 0024/23.

An updated ICF Workbook reflecting the most recent legislative amendments is now available.

Overview

An Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) is a tool to facilitate and encourage cooperation and cost sharing between neighbouring municipalities to ensure municipal services are provided to residents efficiently. The goal of the ICF process is to promote collaboration and regional sustainability by identifying shared services, clarifying responsibilities and planning for the future together.

Frameworks are intended to:

  • Provide for integrated and strategic planning, delivery and funding of intermunicipal services;
  • Allocate scarce resources efficiently in the providing local services; and
  • Ensure municipalities contribute funding to services that benefit their residents.

All municipalities that share a common boundary must create an ICF agreement between them, unless an exemption is granted from the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Municipal districts (MDs) that share a common boundary can mutually determine that they do not require an ICF between them. If agreed to, the MDs must pass resolutions, notify the Minister they are opting out of the ICF requirement, and post on their website why an ICF is not required. If any party later determines an ICF is needed, it must inform the other party and together they must adopt an ICF within one year.

Municipalities that do not have a common boundary may be parties to a framework. The Municipal Government Act (MGA) provides the opportunity to open dialogue with neighbouring First Nations and Metis Settlements regarding collaborative service and delivery – either informally, or through the creation of a voluntary ICF.

Required contents of an ICF

As per Section 708.29 in the Municipal Government Act (MGA), an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) must:

  • Describe the services to be provided that benefit residents in more than one of the municipalities that are parties to the framework;
  • List and describe the mandatory service categories (transportation, water and wastewater, solid waste, emergency services and recreation);
  • Determine a dispute resolution process (comprehensive or for each service); and
  • Determine a term of review that is at least every 5 years (comprehensive or for each service).

For each service included in an ICF:

  • Describe the intermunicipal service to be provided;
  • Identify which municipality is responsible for providing the service(s) to which municipality;
  • Determine how each service will be managed and delivered; and
  • Determine how each service is funded.

Municipalities are required to notify the Minister when they have completed an ICF. Notification should be made by email to: [email protected].

Term of review of ICFs

Municipalities are required to review their Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF)s at least every 5 years after the creation of the framework, or within a shorter period of time if provided for in the framework.

Dispute resolution process

Sometimes, even with best intentions, municipalities are unable to agree during the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) development or review process. As such, an ICF must contain a dispute resolution process that can be implemented when disagreement occurs.

Disagreements may arise regarding the need for:

  • Shared services;
  • The sharing of costs for those services;
  • Level of service;
  • Some other aspect of service delivery;
  • An inability to finalize an ICF by a required date; and/or
  • An inability to review an ICF prior to the date established in the ICF.

There are a variety of conflict resolution approaches that can be used to help municipalities come to an agreement including: facilitation, mediation, mediation-arbitration, voluntary arbitration and mandatory arbitration. While arbitration is a conflict resolution process that is commonly spoken of, it is one process that exists. Arbitration occurs when a neutral third party is hired to make a binding award/decision on an ICF dispute. Arbitration may be undertaken on a voluntary basis or may be mandatory if an agreement cannot be reached by a legislated deadline. Other processes, such as facilitation or mediation, can be used to engaged in ICF discussions – with some significant benefits in saving costs, building the relationship and generating creative solutions.

Municipalities are encouraged to explore the various conflict resolution options depending on whether no conflict, low-level conflict, or high conflict exists in their situation, in addition to the unique circumstances they face. A member of the Municipal Collaboration team (email [email protected]) can also assist municipalities in considering conflict resolution approaches.

Resources

Contact

Connect with a member of the Municipal Collaboration team:

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