Alberta government wants power to remove municipal councillors, repeal bylaws it doesn’t like [Video]

A new bill would give the Alberta government more power over municipalities, including granting cabinet the power to remove councillors from office, and forcing councils to repeal bylaws the province doesn’t like. 

Bill 20, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment, was tabled in the legislature Thursday afternoon. 

The bill would also allow the creation of municipal political parties, but it comes in the form of a pilot project only affecting Edmonton and Calgary. 

Bill 20 proposes many other changes to the Local Authorities Election Act and the Municipal Government Act to reinforce the province’s authority over municipalities. 

If passed, the bill would allow cabinet to call a public referendum on the fate of a municipal councillor, or go as far as to unilaterally remove them from office if it is deemed in the public interest. 

There are no legislative guardrails or limits for when that can happen but the decision can …