Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Albertans’ local governments are strong and collaborative and that their investments in new homes are protected. That is why Alberta’s government is proposing amendments through the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 to modernize and streamline municipal processes in the Local Authorities Election Act, the Municipal Government Act, and the New Home Buyer Protection Act. These amendments build upon previous legislative changes.
“We’re proposing updates to legislation to ensure that Albertans’ local governments deliver them the best results by working collaboratively, and that their investments in new homes are protected. Our proposed amendments are based off consultations with industry and municipal partners and will help our government deliver just that for Albertans.”
Aligning municipal campaign finance rules and enhancing voter accessibility
Proposed changes to the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) would improve fairness and transparency in local elections – especially in Calgary and Edmonton – by allowing campaign funds to be shared between local political parties and their candidates, just like at the provincial level. Parties would also be required to disclose their financial records ahead of the October 2025 municipal elections, giving voters better insight into campaign financing.
Other LAEA amendments are specific to the Municipality of Jasper, where Alberta’s government remains committed to supporting residents as they recover from last year’s wildfires. As part of this work, proposed amendments will allow residents who remain temporarily displaced to vote and run in the upcoming local elections, provided they intend to return to the community.
To preserve the voting rights of Albertans who live with disabilities, proposed amendments would also enable municipalities to use elector assistance terminals for the upcoming fall 2025 local elections. Elector assistance terminals do not count ballots, are not connected to a vote-counting network and do not replace paper ballots.
“The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) fully supports the proposed amendment to the LAEA. This amendment will ensure that all Albertans who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision will have equal opportunity to vote secretly and with dignity in upcoming municipal elections.”
Eliminating Council Codes of Conduct
In recent years, municipal codes of conduct have been weaponized between elected members of some local councils in Alberta, resulting in mistrust, dysfunction and failure to serve Albertans. Proposed amendments would repeal the requirement for municipal councils to have a formal code of conduct and prevent them from implementing their own locally developed codes of conduct.
This will help ensure council members are held accountable at the polls, every four years, by the voters who initially elected them. They may also be recalled by a petition of electors. If the bill passes, Alberta’s government will engage with municipalities on the establishment of common practices for municipal councils and an independent ethics commissioner to address ethics matters involving municipal council members.
Updating Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks
Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) agreements foster collaboration between municipal neighbours to improve the delivery of intermunicipal services for Albertans, but some municipalities have expressed concern that some of the rules around ICFs create confusion and unnecessary red tape. Proposed amendments, based on feedback and engagement with municipal partners, would address these concerns by specifying which intermunicipal services must be included in an ICF, and strengthen the dispute resolution process to ensure ICFs are adopted and implemented effectively.
“Alberta Municipalities is encouraged by the provincial government’s efforts to improve legislation related to Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks by clarifying rules and streamlining processes. We also welcome its efforts to improve the quality of newly built housing and make home warranties more effective.”
Strengthening protections for new home builders and buyers
If passed, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 would also help safeguard the investments of hard-working Albertans by enhancing protections that ensure homes are built to meet construction safety and quality standards. Proposed amendments would streamline owner-builder applications, offer greater flexibility in warranty exemptions and enable the creation of an advisory group for homebuyer protections. This approach will strengthen consumer protection and improve affordability by making existing programs more effective, efficient and user-friendly while providing a safety net that helps protect all parties in the event of construction defects.
Future changes to regulations will also introduce builder competencies and establish a robust system to resolve disputes.
“The Government of Alberta and Municipal Affairs continue to show leadership in strengthening consumer protection while supporting housing affordability. The proposed changes will help ensure homes continue to be built to high safety and quality standards, while supporting increasingly efficient systems and procedures for administering new home warranty.”
Quick facts
- The Local Authorities Election Act establishes the framework for the conduct of elections in Alberta municipalities, school divisions, irrigation districts and Metis Settlements.
- The Municipal Government Act establishes the rules governing the conduct of local elected officials once on council, as well as the overall administration and operation of municipal authorities in Alberta, including any policy those authorities may wish to implement.
- The New Home Buyer Protection Act makes home warranty coverage mandatory for new homes in Alberta.
- This legislation applies to single-family homes, multi-family homes, duplexes, condominiums, manufactured homes and recreational properties constructed under a building permit applied for on or after February 1, 2014.
Related information
Related news
- Accountable and transparent local elections (Oct. 18, 2024)
- Strengthening Alberta’s local elections (April 25, 2024)