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MD councillor loses sleep over UCP Resolution 14

A MD councillor says a resolution passed during a UCP convention earlier this month, which would require municipal representatives and elected officials to sign-up as a lobbyist on a provincial registry, has raised concern and cost him sleep.
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BONNYVILLE – A MD of Bonnyville councillor says he has lost sleep over a United Conservative Party (UCP) resolution that was passed at the party’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) earlier this month. 

“I lost some sleep over that,” said Coun. Ben Fadeyiw, referring to the passed UCP Resolution 14. “That was pretty worrisome.” 

On the afternoon of Oct. 22, UCP members voted in favour of Resolution 14 that would require elected officials and administration of civic and municipal governments to register as lobbyists under the provincial Lobbyists Act if they intended to communicate with the provincial government. 

In between agenda items of the MD of Bonnyville’s council meeting on Oct. 26, Fadeyiw sought the input of the Chief Administrative Officer for the municipality, Al Hoggan. 

“In regard to the UCP policies that are out there, where municipal members would have to register as lobbyists, what’s our stand on it? Has there been a move on it by the RMA (Rural Municipalities of Alberta)? What is the moving target going to look like? And will there be a designated member from the municipalities on that lobbyists’ list?” questioned Fadeyiw. 

Hoggan expressed that he did not foresee the resolution making it into “the legislative light of day.” 

Currently, Resolution 14 remains as a UCP party policy. However, if the policy is drafted and moves into the legislature, Hoggan said he thinks cooler heads will prevail. 

“There has been quite a bit of pushback from municipalities regarding it,” Hoggan told council in response it Fadeyiw’s concerns. 

“We are creatures of the province. We are not a for profit company trying to lobby the government for business or for tenders or for procurement. We are children of the province so to speak, and as a result having us registered as lobbyists it would be like having your children have to register for you to have lunch.” 

If a proposed policy or amendment to the Lobbyist Act were to surface in Alberta’s Legislature, council could make a motion to write a letter of concern or opposition, indicated Hoggan. 

Intent of Resolution 14 

The reasoning behind the party resolution is to hold the members of municipal and civic agents, who are currently exempt from the Lobbyist Act, “to the highest standards of accountability and transparency in all areas of their activities/operations and exercise of their judgment and authority,” according to the information outlined in the UCP AGM 2022 Policy and Governance Resolutions. 

Further reasoning behind the resolution states, “Alberta municipalities serve not only as regulators of many aspects in the lives of citizens of Alberta, but they also establish costs and rates charged to Albertans.” 

Although this resolution was adopted by UCP members, the government is not obligated to adopt it. 

Other groups that are exempt from Alberta’s Lobbyist Act include federal and Indigenous politicians and bureaucrats as well as Crown corporation representatives. 

Groups that fall under the Lobbyist Act include private consultants that lobby special interests as a profession, representatives of companies, unions and other organizations that meet with provincial officials and representatives to seek changes in government policy.

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