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But it’s a big deal for some on council. They voted 14 months ago to lobby the province to ban corporate and union donations at the municipal level, as it has at the provincial level. With that on the record, some are leery of accepting the cash even though the province has thus far been mute.

The province could still ban the donations across the board by changing the Local Authorities Election Act during the fall sitting. But the next municipal election is October 2017.

“We could still move quickly if the conditions are right,” Mayor Don Iveson said Thursday. He hopes the wording in the final regulation will give Edmonton that power.

But he said any change would likely need to go through a city-appointed citizen or experts commission: “You can’t put council in charge of setting campaign finance.”

Coun. Andrew Knack has not started fundraising and has been vocal in support of the ban.

“It’s about having as level a playing field as possible,” he said. “Money shouldn’t be a factor when it comes to elections. It should be about ideas.”

The consultation runs Oct. 3-4 in Edmonton. It’s at the Lister Centre at 87 Avenue and 116 Street from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. An online survey is also available.

Here are some other highlights:

• Edmonton and Calgary could have the option to increase the maximum bylaw fine above $10,000 for serious development and drainage offences.

• The two cities could chose to allow Internet-based voting.

• Edmonton and Calgary could run their own bylaw courts, starting with transit and parking tickets. The rules could also allow police, bylaw and peace officers to submit swore affidavits on bylaw matters rather than wait in court to testify.