The provincial government Tuesday introduced Bill 21 which will amend the Municipal Government Act across Alberta.

Wildrose Livingstone-MacLeod MLA Pat Stier says the act needs to be brought up to date.

But he has real concerns about mandatory Growth Management Boards.

"Even when I was on Foothills MD council back in '04 to '07, it has been a concern and changing back to regional planning and changing back to where a municipality no longer has the autonomy it used to have has been an ongoing worry and concern for decades," Stier says. "We're returning back to an old system that didn't work very well in  late 80's and early 90's, although we don't know precisely how this new board will work or how it will be set up, it is now going to be put in place as soon as we pass this bill and it will be a thing that will mean a lot of changes for rural municipalities in how they deal with future growth."

The boards will be responsible for developing regional approaches to the delivery of things like water and wastewater systems and transportation as well as coming up with a growth plan for future development.

Stier says some municipalities were worried about the regional sharing of funding and the proposed amendments will put in place a requirement to have a municipal collaborative framework requirement as well as intermunicipal development plans between all municipalities no matter their size. He says the framework will have to include servicing and funding so while there's great cooperation in the foothills between the MD, High River and Okotoks, some do not and this will force them to do the same.

The government plans to hold 20 public consultation sessions, although Stier is disappointed the closest to his riding is either Calgary or Lethbridge.