Pat Stier

The provincial government touts plans for a new Municipal Government Act as fostering more cooperation between municipalities.

But not everyone sees it that way.

Wildrose Livingstone-MacLeod MA Pat Stier says mandatory "growth management boards" look like a return to the 1980's and 90"s when the Calgary Regional Planning Commission existed.

"In the past system that we had until 1993 where we had this regional planning before the government paid for these boards to be staffed and manned and administered and it was very costly and I wouldn't be surprised if the don't try to do it in the same manner again," he says.

Stier says municipalities need to be consulted to ensure their autonomy is protected.

According to a Government news release the updated MGA will address outstanding issues and aim to achieve the following for Alberta municipalities:

-strengthened provincial-municipal relations;
-greater regional collaboration;
-more sustainable and inclusive development;
-further responsibility for land use and environmental conservation; and
-increased fairness and consistency for Alberta taxpayers.

Stier has real concerns about how it might affect local planning decisions.

"The Foothills MD and Rockeyview and Wheatland Counties decided not to be a part of the Calgary Regional Partnerships Calgary Metropolitan Plan because they had fears about losing their local autonomy and their local ability to make local decisions," Stier says.

He says there needs to be more consultation with municipalities before a new MGA is passed.

The new MGA is to be brought forward next spring.