Cities speaking out over UCP plan to bar COVID bylaws

By COLLIN GALLANT on March 3, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

The lobby group representing Alberta’s towns and cities says amending legislation to bar local mask bylaws is a short-term political move that could have long-lasting repercussions.

The provincial government lifted its Alberta-wide mask mandate this week, along with most capacity and other restrictions outside health facilities and pubic transit meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

But, Edmonton city council has decided to keep its local ordinance, leading to overtures from Premier Jason Kenney that the province will seek the authority to override that decision.

“Something that Albertans do not deserve right now is uncertainty and confusion,” Kenney told a news conference on Tuesday.

“That is why I am announcing today that Alberta’s government will introduce in the legislature, as soon as possible, amendments to the Municipal Government Act, which will remove the abilities of municipalities to impose their own separate public health restrictions.”

That legislation creates the legal framework for cities, towns and counties to operate, and is typically only overhauled every few years after extensive discussions.

On Wednesday, Alberta Municipalities, which represents city’s to the province, called the approach “heavy handed.”

“It seems like a short-term political calculation that could influence long-term governance decisions at the municipal level,” said president Cathy Heron, the mayor of St. Albert.

“We worry that it may set a dangerous precedent. After all, if the government can amend the MGA anytime if local government disagrees with it or wished to take a different approach, then municipalities will have lost some of their freedom to decide and act locally in the best interests of their residences and businesses.”

Medicine Hat hasn’t had a local mask bylaw in place since March 2021.

That was brought in late in 2020 when the province had been slow to act in addressing the third wave of COVID-19, though not long after the province did enact its own.

It was allowed to expire without action at a set date a few months later as council members argued it was redundant.

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