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County of Paintearth council hosts virtual delegation from RMA during June 2nd meeting

The RMA also usually hosts two conferences for municipalities in a given year
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By Kevin J. Sabo For the Advance

The County of Paintearth Council received a virtual delegation from the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA), a rural municipality lobbying group that works with Alberta Municipal Affairs on behalf of its member municipalities.

Involved in the delegation were RMA President Al Kemmere, RMA District two representative Paul McLauchlin, and organization Executive Director Gerald Rhodes. Representatives from the RMA attempt to connect with all member municipalities in Alberta once in a three-year cycle.

“Normally we’d rather do this in person,” said Kemmere. “We live with what we get.”

Kemmere opened his presentation highlighting the changes that have been made in the Municipal Government Act allowing municipalities in Alberta to meet virtually instead of in council chambers during the public health emergency that the country is battling.

Also highlighted was the Government of Alberta response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included deferring non-residential tax to Oct. 1st, 2020 and changing the deadline for municipalities who are still working on legislatively required Inter-municipal Collaborative Frameworks and Inter-municipal Development Plans, both of which the County has nearly completed with neighbouring municipalities.

“We’re trying to get through some financial supports to non-residential taxpayers,” said Kemmere.

“We’ve also advocated that whatever stimulus looks like; it should be available to all municipalities.”

Several weeks ago the Government of Alberta placed a request to municipalities across the province who had “shovel-ready” projects that needed funding to assist in getting Albertans back to work.

“From this point, we have seen nothing with any foundation to it. We’re still waiting,” said Kemmere.

He also cleared up a misconception to do with Gas Tax funding.

The funds come from the federal government a couple times a year, and recently the Prime Minister announced that the fall disbursement of Gas Tax funds will take place early to help the municipalities affected with decreased revenues.

This is not new funding, as has been reported in other media after the announcement, said Kemmere.

Something else Kemmere touched on was the $173 million owed to municipalities in back taxes by oil and gas companies, something which the RMA actually took to the media due to effect the issue has had on municipality bottom lines.

“The issue has not gone away,” said Kemmere. “We have not seen legislation change to support this.”

The RMA usually hosts two conferences for municipalities in a given year, however due to the pandemic the spring conference was cancelled. The organization is still planning on holding a fall conference but is taking a wait-and-see approach until later in the summer.