Calgary mayor concerned about expected provincial rules preventing direct federal funding
The Alberta government is expected to introduce legislation Wednesday to oversee deals between Ottawa and municipalities.
Premier Danielle Smith and Seniors and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon have hinted at potential rules to prevent direct funding deals between the federal government and cities and towns in Alberta.
"It's not the federal government's jurisdiction to come in and tell the municipalities what to do," Nixon said Friday, following what was one of several federal announcements to pledge money to municipalities to boost housing construction.
"Frankly, it's the province's jurisdiction, and we need to maintain our jurisdiction," he said.
Calgary's mayor says the rule changes could put money from the feds to the city in jeopardy.
"We have a provincial government that's going to step in now and prohibit us from receiving funding that we desperately need for housing," said Mayor Jyoti Gondek on Tuesday.
"It's simply going to slow things down and that will make life worse for Calgarians, not better.
"Once again, for a government that talks about cutting red tape and overreach, this is rich."
The province argues it is in the best position to hand out federal money properly and fairly. Nixon also accused the federal government of playing politics with the serious issue of housing.
"This is not about creating more red tape, this is about protecting Alberta and forcing the federal government to come sit down with the province and build to create more homes," Nixon said.
Details of the upcoming legislation aren't known, but Nixon said Alberta was looking at rules similar to Quebec's.
Legislation in Quebec states no municipal or school body may enter a financial agreement with the federal government without authorization from the province.
"I think that's a way for (the Alberta government) to control the funding distribution so they can take credit for it, not for them to actually provide the best services for the public," said Courtney Walcott, city councillor for Calgary's eighth ward.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
BREAKING Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, claims he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women in Winnipeg, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Trudeau Liberals to unveil new bill Monday aimed at countering foreign interference
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be tabling legislation on Monday aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Federal officials have scheduled a technical briefing on the incoming bill for Monday afternoon.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.
Human remains were found at a former Hitler base, but decay prevents determining the cause of death
Polish prosecutors have discontinued an investigation into human skeletons found at a site where German dictator Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders spent time during the Second World War because the advanced state of decay made it impossible to determine the cause of death, a spokesman said Monday.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Trump fined US$1,000 for gag order violation in hush money case as judge warns of possible jail time
The judge presiding over Donald Trump's hush money trial fined him US$1,000 on Monday for violating his gag order once again and sternly warned the former president that additional violations could result in jail time.