By Joni MacFarlane
Editor, Crowsnest Pass Promoter
Ratepayers and signatories on a petition asking the province to investigate the municipality are celebrating their success after the Minister agreed to the request.
A total of 2,510 people signed a petition delivered to Alberta’s Municipal Affairs on November 1 calling on the province to conduct an investigation into the operations of the municipality.
A letter from Doug Griffiths, Minister of Municipal Affairs, confirmed the petition was sufficient under the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and said an inspector will soon be appointed.
The inspector has “the power to require the attendance of any officer of the municipality, or of any other person whose presence the inspector considers necessary, the power to require persons to give evidence on oath, and to produce any documents, papers or things that the inspector considers to be required.”
A municipal inspection is comprehensive and includes a review of bylaws, policies, council meetings, finances, budgets, property taxes and governance roles and responsibilities.
It also includes interviews with all members of council, the CAO, staff and “a sample of residents,” as well as “a review and evaluation of public engagement and communication policies and procedures.”
After the inspection is complete, a report is made to the Minister who then provides it to council. Shortly afterwards, the report is presented at a public meeting.