Thread by @RageMunicipal

Here's the Q&A with government ministers. @TheAUMA

First Q:

Mayor Michael Muzycha, town of Olds, question about broadband, notes federal money is in play. Asks if munis own the dark fibre in the ground, we could possibly get broadband "almost overnight."

Glubish says there needs to be partnership with all governments. "This will not be something we solve overnight." Says they're working with Ottawa.

"We will continue to work with municipalities as well as with the federal government ... to optimize the investments being made."

Does not have much to offer on provincial broadband strategy.

Q from Grande Prairie about referendum on the municipal ballot: When can we know what's going to be on the ballot?

McIver: "I'm not sure I have that answer. I'm not sure that answer exists yet. I can tell you it will be well in advance of the municipal election."

Q about federal money flowing to municipalities on a timely basis.

Min. Panda: Says they're working with munis and feds.

Q from Lac La Biche about unpaid taxes from oil and gas industry. "Is there a strategy for that?"

McIver: "It's a big issue for municipalities." Notes RMA report that shows close to $250M owing.

Talks about directive 67 from AER. aer.ca/regulating-dev…

McIver: "If I was a municipality and I was owed a lot of money by company X, I would make sure the AER is aware of those things." Says this will help AER know what's happening when considering applications.

Says he's going to try to bring munis and industry together.

Says there are some companies able to pay their bills but choosing not to.

"Longer term, I'm encouraging energy companies to appreciate municipalities and I'm encouraging municipalities to appreciate energy companies."🧐🤔

Q for finance minister on revenues.

Toews: Says munis will be involved in coming changes for economic recovery.

Toews: "At some point as a province we need to consider the appropriateness and efficiency of our tax structure."

A lot to unpack there. Not many details provided to do so.

Q from @AndrewKnack on third-party review on municipal practices. Says city was not engaged.

"The city would like to understand if delivery of capital projects will be affected by this review."

Panda: Edmonton will be consulted, "if they have not been consulted, I'm surprised."

"The intent...is how do we improve the efficiency of delivering public programs through public procurement, respecting the trade deals we signed. How do we deliver services...at a lower cost?"

Panda commits to consulting with Edmonton.

"Rest assured you'll be consulted and it won't disrupt any of your projects in the meantime."

Questioner says the government has discouraged questions on coal, curriculum.

Questioner just isn't having it.

There is a long silence.

"No one is discouraging conversations on coal," says Nixon.

Question on new fees for "random camping" (quite a term).

Who's getting the $?

Nixon: Revenue will go towards increased enforcement, to partner with orgs to develop places to random camp, and to search and rescue.

Q about pandemic, about losses for women. "What measures and supports will be planned ... to support Alberta women."

A: Toews: "Absolutely acknowledge that women have been disproportionately affected, and particularly so many work in the service sector."

Toews notes the discussion of "accessible, affordable child care." But that's all discussed — a discussion.

Q on how you can ask us to follow regulations in municipalities while you have MLAs publicly saying they don't support them.

McIver: "Those MLAs, the letter that was written, doesn't represent government policy. That's what I would say."

"I and our government make no allowances for people to not follow regulations."

"No one's above the law."

Q on referendums: "Why should municipalities be subjected to this?"

McIver: Says government will provide details for funding to offset additional cost for running the referendum. There's a $10M fund.

Note: A lot of the details seem to be not figured out.

Toews: "We have some very fundamental questions that will have significant ... effects. We feel it's appropriate that Albertans can weigh in ..."

Says the concept of going back to Albertans to get perspectives is NBD, says munis should work with government on this.

That's a wrap for this session.

Our read: Details on the municipal election co-existing with a provincial referendum have many municipalities asking for details, including about money, and few concrete details being offered.

And back in session! The host is reminding everyone that the media can see the chat and to keep it respectful LOL

Q from Hinton for Madu on provincial policing initiative that the government is looking into: there's already a survey and a referendum costing millions of dollars why wouldn't we wait until the election?

Madu: we commissioned the provincial police study and it needs to happen. Once we have a sense of what the impact is, we can go to the people of Alberta. Says we need the facts first and to study models.

And mayor @doniveson asking about supportive housing to MLA Pon and being turned down from $60 million. Says GOA will not commit to keeping lights on. Asks will we commit to funding housing

Min Pon: We have committed capital funds we have given you more than 77 million dollars to build housing and supported funding shelter space (so no).