Calgary regional planning to be mandated under new provincial law

Calgary and the municipalities that surround it will be forced to co-operateon regional planning issues as part of new "growth management boards," the Alberta government announced Friday.

Municipal Affairs MinisterDeronBiloussaid he wants to end competition and bickering between communities on issues like transportation, land use and water services.

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"We want to encourage municipalities to work together so that we can eliminate duplication of services, we can find efficiencies but, quite frankly, so that we can plan and manage growth in the way that works for all of our citizens,"Biloussaid, speaking at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association conference in Calgary.

Full details on the growth management boards will be announced at a later date,Biloussaid, but he noted participation in the boards would be mandatory for municipalities surrounding both Calgary and Edmonton.

'Very good news': Nenshi

Calgary MayorNaheedNenshi, who has clashed in the past with rural municipal leaders over regional planning issues, welcomed the announcement as "very, very good news."

The Edmonton area already has a body tasked with regional planning the Capital Region Board (CRB), which was created by Premier EdStelmachin 2007.

Participation in that body is mandatory for municipalities surrounding the provincial capital, andBiloussaid the new growth management board for Edmonton would effectively replace the CRB.

Calgary partnership currently voluntary

In southern Alberta, there exists a group called the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) but participation is voluntary.

Rocky View County which wraps around Calgary to the west, north and east pulled out of the CRP in 2009 after disagreements over its voting structure. The counties of Foothills and Wheatlandalso dropped out.

The new growth management boards will be created as part of the revised Municipal Government Act, legislation Bilous said his government will introduce in the spring.

Wildrose criticizes plan

Wildrosemunicipal affairs criticPat Stiersaid Bilous'plan to make participation in the boards mandatory something the minister only made clear through Twitter after his initial public commentsraises"serious red flags."

"Municipalities directly impacted by this decision need to be fully consulted, and the government needs to ensure their views, their powers and local autonomy are protected," Stier said.

"Regional collaboration and co-operation is important but should not be imposed, especially without consultation."