Changes to the Municipal Government Act that Affect all Municipalities 2020 Update: IDPS and ICFs

On October 26, 2017 the Province of approved a number of amendments to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) including a requirement for all municipalities in the province that share a common boundary to develop and have in place an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) and an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) by the spring of 2020. Neighbouring municipalities that had an existing IDP would also have had to update their current IDP in order to comply with the new regulations.

*IMPORTANT UPDATE* In December 2019 the Province of Alberta approved some additional revisions to the Municipal Government by way of Bill 25 as part of their red tape reduction program. Neighboring municipalities are now no longer required to complete an IDP should both parties agree; any municipality may also revoke their agreement by written notice, in which case the municipalities are required to adopt an IDP within one year. With regards to ICFs, the completion of an ICF is now completely independent of the IDP process. However, ICFs remain a mandated document for neighboring municipalities as stated within the original regulations adopted in October, 2017. As clarified in Bill 25, ICFs must now only describe the services that benefit residents in more than one of the municipalities and identify which municipality is responsible for providing the services and how the service will be delivered and funded. For more information on Bill 25 please visit: https://auma.ca/sites/default/files/attachment_changes_to_the_icf_and_idp_requirements.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF)?

Municipalities with a common border are required to create an ICF with each other within two years of the provincial regulations coming into effect. ICFs will address the sharing of services on an intermunicipal basis. The Provincial ICF Regulations outline the requirements with respect to how municipalities deal with among other things: exemptions; duties; alignment of other bylaws; the arbitration process for creating frameworks; the dispute resolution process; and judicial review.

What is an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP)?

The purpose of an IDP is to provide neighbouring municipalities with a high level, comprehensive long range land use plan for lands immediately surrounding or adjacent to another municipality such as a village, town, city or an adjacent county. IDPs provide joint policy direction for proposals for future development; transportation systems; intermunicipal infrastructure; environmental matters; coordination of intermunicipal programs related to physical, social and economic development; dispute resolution; and procedures to amend the plan. IDP and ICF Progress to Date

Below is a list of the various IDPs and ICFs that has completed with the following municipalities under the original mandated requirements adopted in October, 2017:

Town of Sylvan Lake Village of Village of Elnora Town of Bowden Town of Town of Innisfail

Current IDP and ICF Projects

Red Deer County is currently working on IDPs and ICFs with the City of Red Deer and a regional Sylvan Lake IDP which will include eight municipalities surrounding Sylvan Lake (Red Deer County, , Town of Sylvan Lake, and Summer Villages of , , Birch cliff, Half Moon Bay, and ). **Update: Due to the changes brought forward by Bill 25, Red Deer County will no longer be pursuing the adoption on IDPs with , Clearwater County, Stettler County, and Lacombe County. IDPs and ICFs that have been completed prior to Bill 25 will remain in place and will not be rescinded. All ongoing IDP and ICF projects will be developed following the new requirements listed within Bill 25. All draft IDPs will be made available on the County’s website once they are considered ready for public viewing and well in advance of County approval. The dates and times for public hearings will be advertised in the Red Deer County News, on the County’s website and as well as within the applicable municipalities newsletters/ newspapers and websites. Landowners within and directly adjacent to an IDP plan area will also be notified of any upcoming public hearing via referral letter.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding this initiative in general or regarding any specific IDP please contact the Red Deer County Office at 403-350-2170.