Viability reviews for municipalities

A review can be started in one of 3 ways:

Council request

Councils can write to the Minister of Municipal Affairs to request a review if they:

• have passed a resolution requesting a viability review
• have implemented the mitigation tools found in the capacity building toolkit
• believe the municipality is in jeopardy of becoming, or is, no longer viable

The council request must also include a completed Municipal Sustainability Strategy Self-Assessment Questionnaire.

Petition

Electors of a municipality can petition the Minister of Municipal Affairs to undertake a viability review.

To petition the Minister, electors must submit a petition that includes:

• signatures of electors numbering at least 30% of the municipality’s population (in a summer village, signatures of electors equal to at least 50% of the number of summer village residences)
• a statement of representative of petitioners
• an affidavit for each person that witnessed signatures

All legislated requirements for petitions are outlined in the information handout on petitions.

Before starting a petition, electors should contact the Municipal Viability team at [email protected] or by phone at 780-427-2225 or toll-free by dialing 310-000 first.

Minister’s discretion

The Minister of Municipal Affairs can initiate a viability review if they believe it’s warranted.

The Minister may choose to initiate a viability screening to decide if a viability review, or if another process, would be more appropriate. A viability screening involves government staff gathering information to understand municipal concerns and identify why the council request or petition was made.

The Minister may also initiate a viability screening if a municipality is considered at risk for 3 consecutive years through its municipal indicators.

If the Minister initiates a viability review, ministry staff will conduct the review, including collecting information for the viability report. In undertaking the review, the Minister also commits to holding a vote of the electors on the question of dissolution at the conclusion of the review.

Information is collected for the review from:

• the municipality
• the potential receiving municipality
• an infrastructure audit of the municipality
• public engagement and community involvement, which can include: 
  • written submissions
  • surveys
  • public information sessions

During a review, the municipality is eligible to apply for grant funding for an infrastructure audit through the Alberta Community Partnership program. This audit assesses municipal infrastructure and creates a roadmap for future capital improvements.

A Viability Review Support Group (VRSG) is also created. This group is composed of councillors and administration from the review and potential receiving municipality, in addition to appointed representatives from the municipal associations. The VRSG reviews the draft viability report and makes recommendations for long-term sustainability of the community.

Public engagement

Throughout the viability review, the ministry organizes engagement opportunities to inform residents on the viability review process and collect feedback. Engagement activities include:

• an initial public information session to outline the viability review process and gather information
• a survey to gather detailed input from community residents and business owners
• a mid-review public information session to update residents and business owners on the viability review process and gather additional information
• a pre-vote public information session to discuss the viability review report and review the options presented

Public engagement events and activities are promoted online and in letters to community residents. Following the initial and mid-review engagement sessions, supporting resources and documents will be made available highlighting common concerns.

After the review is complete, a report is prepared for the municipality. This report is sent to all residents and property owners and presented to the community in a pre-vote meeting.

The report typically describes 2 options for the municipality:

1. remain an incorporated municipality and work towards municipal sustainability
2. dissolve and become a hamlet in the receiving municipality and the changes and impacts that residents may expect

The report also contains recommendations for the municipality to improve its viability should electors vote for the incorporated municipality to remain.

After the pre-vote public information session, a vote of electors is conducted in accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA).

To be eligible to vote, a person must be:

• at least 18 years of age
• a Canadian citizen
• a resident of Alberta whose place of residence is in the municipality on election day

According to the LAEA, residents of another municipality, or who own property but whose primary place of residence is not in the municipality, are not eligible to vote. Refer to the LAEA for specific regulations concerning voter eligibility in a summer village.

A person’s primary residence is usually the one to which their tax returns are addressed, is on their driver’s licence, or the address their mail is addressed and delivered.

To vote, eligible electors must produce identification. Acceptable forms of identification can be found in the Voter Identification Requirements.

The vote is held on the following 2 options:

1. municipality remains and implements changes to achieve viability
2. dissolve and the municipality becomes a hamlet in the receiving municipality

If a majority of electors vote for the municipality to remain (and implement changes), the Minister will issue directives the review municipality must comply with. If a majority of electors vote for the municipality to dissolve, the Minister must recommend dissolution to the Provincial Cabinet, who will then make the final decision on dissolution.

For more information about dissolution, see the Dissolution section on Municipal restructuring.

A viability review was initiated for the Summer Village of Ma-Me-O Beach in December 2023. This review started at the request of the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Current status

With input from the Summer Village of Ma-Me-O Beach and the surrounding County of Wetaskiwin, a viability review report is being prepared that will be shared with residents and property owners. Once the report has been distributed, a pre-vote public information session will be held to review the contents of the report prior to the vote on the question of dissolution. This vote is anticipated to be held in early 2025 and will be conducted as per the requirements of the Municipal Government Act.

Past activities

An initial public information session was held to explain the viability review process with the community on February 21, 2024. This session covered what to expect during the viability review, and participants had the opportunity to share their thoughts on the viability of Ma-Me-O Beach. The ministry also shared an online public survey.

An in-person, mid-review public information session was held in Ma-Me-O Beach on August 10, 2024, to provide an update on the viability review process, to discuss the contents of the Ma-Me-O Beach viability review report, and to provide input on the development of the viability review report:

• Ma-Me-O Beach Initial Session Presentation
• Ma-Me-O Beach Mid-Review Presentation

A viability review was initiated for the Village of Bittern Lake in October 2023. This review started because of a sufficient petition.

Current status

A viability review report has been prepared with the input from the Village of Bittern Lake and surrounding Camrose County and will be shared with residents and property owners. This document is intended to assist residents and property owners in making a decision to remain or to dissolve their hamlet.

• Viability review report: Village of Bittern Lake

A pre-vote public information session will now be held to review the contents of the report. Following this, a vote will be held on whether to remain a municipality or to dissolve and become a hamlet in Camrose County.

• Pre-vote Public Information meeting to be held Tuesday, March 18, at the Bittern Lake Community Hall.
• Vote on the question of dissolution to be held April 1 and 2 at the Bittern Lake Community Hall.
  • Bittern Lake notice of vote
  • Voter identification requirements

Past activities

An initial public information session was held in Bittern Lake to review the viability review process with the community on January 11, 2024. This session included tabletop exercises and a public survey. This public survey was also available online. Based on this initial information session, an additional information document was prepared for the public.

A mid-review public information session was held in Bittern Lake on June 19, 2024, to provide an update on the viability review process and an opportunity to gather additional public input. A viability report was finalized in March 2025 and shared with the community.

• Bittern Lake Initial Session Presentation
• Village of Bittern Lake Viability Review – Additional Information
• Bittern Lake Mid-Review Presentation

A viability review was initiated for the Village of Delia in January 2023. This review started at the request of the village council.

Current status

With input from the Village of Delia and the surrounding Starland County, a viability review is being prepared and will be shared with residents and property owners. Once the report has been distributed, a pre-vote public information session will be held to review the contents of the report prior to the vote on the question of dissolution. This vote is anticipated to be held in late 2024 and will be conducted as per the requirements of the Municipal Government Act.

Past activities

An initial public information session was held in Delia to review the viability review process with the community on March 22, 2023. This session included tabletop exercises and a public survey.

A mid-review information session was held in Delia on October 4, 2023, to provide an update on the viability review process and an opportunity to gather additional public input.

The Village of Halkirk was dissolved to become a hamlet within the County of Paintearth on January 1, 2025, per Order in Council 362/2024.

The Village of Warner voted to remain a village in March 2022. The Minister issued directives to the village to achieve viability and it must provide annual updates on the progress of the directives until June 2027.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Warner Report

The Village of Cereal was dissolved and became a hamlet in Special Areas on January 1, 2021.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Cereal Report

The Village of Dewberry was dissolved and became a hamlet in the County of Vermilion River on January 1, 2021.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Dewberry Report

The Village of Hythe was dissolved and became a hamlet in the County of Grande Prairie on July 1, 2021.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Hythe Report

The Village of Wabamun was dissolved and became a hamlet in Parkland County on January 1, 2021.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Wabamun Report 

The Town of Granum was dissolved and became a hamlet in the Municipal District of Willow Creek on February 1, 2020.

Public notices and reports

• Town of Granum Report

The Town of Manning voted to remain a town in October 2020. The Minister issued directives to the town to achieve viability and it must provide annual updates on the progress of the directives until June 2024.

Public notices and reports

• Town of Manning Report

The Village of Bawlf voted to remain a village in October 2020. The Minister issued directives to the municipality to achieve viability and it must provide annual updates on the progress of the directives until June 2025.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Bawlf Report

The Village of Ferintosh was dissolved and became a hamlet in Camrose County on January 1, 2020.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Ferintosh Report

The Village of Gadsby was dissolved and became a hamlet in the County of Stettler on February 1, 2020.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Gadsby Report

The Town of Grande Cache was dissolved and became a hamlet in the Municipal District of Greenview on January 1, 2019.

Public notices and reports

• Town of Grande Cache Report

The Village of Berwyn voted to remain a village in May 2018 and was subject to directives until June 2023. The village has requested to continue annual reporting and the Minister has approved additional reporting until June 2026.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Berwyn Report

Based on input from the public and the Viability Review Team, the Minister chose not to conduct a vote for the Village of Champion and issued directives for the village until June 2023. The village met all directives and is no longer subject to ministry review.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Champion Report

The Village of Hussar voted to remain a village in October 2018 and was subject to directives until June 2023. The village met all directives and is no longer subject to ministry review.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Hussar Report

The Village of Innisfree voted to remain a village in November 2018 and was subject to directives until June 2023. The village met all directives and is no longer subject to ministry review.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Innisfree Report

The Village of Rycroft voted to remain a village in July 2018 and was subject to directives until June 2023. The village met all directives and is no longer subject to ministry review.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Rycroft Report

The Village of Hill Spring voted to remain a village in December 2017 and was subject to directives until June 2023. The village met all directives and is no longer subject to ministry review.

• Village of Hill Spring Report

Based on input from the Village of Clyde council and the Viability Review Team, the Minister chose not to conduct a vote and issued directives for the village until June 2021. The village met all directives and is no longer subject to ministry review.

Public notices and reports

• Village of Clyde Report