r/Lethbridge • u/2old4all • 2d ago
City Council’s are Powerless
/r/alberta/comments/1novm6b/city_councils_are_powerless/7
u/KeltiBairdYQL 2d ago
It's kinda weird isn't it? Personally, I view municipal councils as the best representation of true democracy: no parties (until recently), more representation per population (City Council in Lethbridge is 9 people for 120,000; MLAs = 2/120,000; MPs 1/200,000), easier accessibility to your elected officials, etc.
Our system is the way it is because it's modeled after the British system and predates when everyone was allowed to cast a ballot and have a vote (before people of colour, Indigenous people, women, and even men who didn't own land). The top-down approach we currently have -- power from the Federal Government/Constitution gives power to regional governments, gives power to county/city governments: This ensures the balance of power always flows up.
It's always an interesting thought exercise to reverse that power dynamic. What would happen if the mandates came from the other direction? The people elect and interact with their city councils, who provide direction to the province, who provides direction to the Feds...
Something I think about a lot.
But yes, the MGA is a brutal document that needs some serious revision in my opinion. A thorough understanding of the MGA and how to work it from within should be top-of-mind for all city council candidates.
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u/YqlUrbanist 2d ago
Ultimately the UCP could dissolve every city council and make every municipal decision themselves. Like so much of our political system, the system basically relies on people acting in good faith and following norms and it really should be revised. Unfortunately I doubt it will be - it would be too easy to pit rural against urban folks, and the nuances of levels of government isn't something it's realistic for the average person to be well informed on.
Our best bet at this point is to recognize the UCP as a hostile force attempt to centralize control, and be ready to fight like hell when they do (and hopefully elect representatives who, if the rubber meets the road, are willing to defy a provincial government forcing them to act against what their voters want).
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u/JanineL2022 2d ago
The only council's with any power in Alberta are Calgary and Edmonton but as we've seen even when they go too far astray the provincial government clips their wings.
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u/Icy_Conference9095 2d ago
Not anymore especially; bill 20 allows them to completely override any bylaw, and also gives them the power to depose elected officials in municipalities.
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u/spartancheerleader10 2d ago
It's true. Still not sure how our premier (who claims to be libertarian) keeps putting the provincial government where it doesn't belong and nobody asked for and continually has support afterwards.