Despite provincial opposition raising the alarm, new sweeping provincial legislation governing regional growth boards for municipalities has the support of Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson.

Introduced by Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths, the Modernizing Regional Governance Act (Bill 28) legislates current regulations surrounding municipal boards, including the Capital Region Board that represents 24 municipalities, including Edmonton.

The legislation gives government the power to name new growth boards, designate board boundaries, appoint board members, and determine a growth plan's objectives, contents and timelines.

But Iveson said the bill is just making official what Edmonton has already been doing for years, which is ensuring the city has good relationships with its neighbours.

"There's still broad latitude for us to define how we want to work together," said Iveson, at city hall on Wednesday.

"There is still lots of room to negotiate and create for ourselves in the Edmonton region the kind of future that we want to design together... The fact that there's a law saying we ought to do that, when it's what we ought to be doing anyway, doesn't change anything for us."

The bill also gives growth boards the power to prevent municipalities from undertaking public works, writing bylaws, passing resolutions or entering into municipal agreements that are inconsistent with the board's growth plan.

Further, mayors and reeves participating in boards that don't report required information to the board are liable for a fine of up to $10,000 or a jail sentence of no more than a year.

Iveson says Edmonton is going to comply, so he's not worried about jail time.

But opposition parties say the bill gives government too much power, especially over smaller, rural municipalities.

"The Mayors we've spoken with are ballistic," said Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith, vowing to fight the bill "tooth and nail."

"Many of our councils have only just been sworn in, they're getting their staff in place and this government is trying to sneak this legislation in while they're not looking," she said.

"We should recognize our local government as another order of government and show them the respect they deserve."

Liberal Leader Raj Sherman called the bill "draconian" and "a return to the dark ages" while Alberta NDP critic Deron Bilous called the measures "iron-fisted".

"This legislation takes away the autonomy of municipalities and is another example of how this PC government has a paternalistic attitude toward municipalities," he said.

Defending the bill in Question Period, Premier Alison Redford said it will change the provincial government's relationship with cities for the better, while Griffiths said the legislation is "a mirror image" of regulations already in place.

"Bill 28's time has come," said Griffiths.

"Nothing has changed. The operations stay the same for the Capital Region Board. We haven't changed anything except move it from regulation to legislation as we're required to do."

It's expected that the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and The Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties will soon review the legislation closely.

matthew.dykstra@sunmedia.ca

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