Starland County was successful in passing its resolution to the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties AAMD&C, lobbying the province to improve oversight of delegated legislation.
Starland Reeve Barrie Hoover explains the resolution is to deal with making sure regulations and other items related to bills are presented before legislation is passed.
“We are asking not just the provincial government but also ourselves,” said Hoover.
“When we put forward a bill or a motion that before it goes to third reading we want to have all the right regulations or what the rules are before people have to vote on it so they know exactly what they are voting for rather than a surprise at the end.”
The resolution reads, “that the AAMD&C lobby the Government of Alberta to enact a legislative requirement that all delegated legislation including regulations, orders in council, ministerial orders and codes, that are essential to the implementation of new or amending legislation, be submitted for review to the public and the legislature before final reading of the enabling legislation takes place.”
It was co-sponsored by Kneehill County and earlier this year the resolution approval from the Central Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties before taken to the provincial level.
An example of a legislation coming before the supporting regulations and codes is the controversial Bill 6. Hoover said this was a jumping off point for the resolution.
“That’s where it started from, but there have been several before, and every once in a while we have our own where you have to plan on how it is going to effect everyone before you pass it,” he said.
The sesolution was approved at the Spring Meeting on March 16 and 17. It received an 85.5 per cent endorsement. With the passing of this resolution, it becomes a lobbying point for the entire AAMD&C.
