Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver outlined the new rules at a press conference on Oct. 18, saying citizens in Alberta must be able to participate fully in local elections, following clear campaign rules that apply to everyone evenly.
“The updates we are making for local elections and municipal governance demonstrate our commitment to accountability, to transparency and to democracy for all Albertans,” he said.
The new regulations allow local political parties and slates to register and be listed on municipal election ballots in Calgary and Edmonton for the October 2025 election. The regulation for local political parties and slates outlines strict rules for their registration, operation and financial administration, similar to existing rules that govern local candidates and provincial political parties.
Local political parties and slates will not be permitted to have a formal affiliation with a provincial or federal political party, may not have a name or acronym that resembles a provincial or federal political party and will not be permitted for school board trustee elections. Local candidates will not be required to join a local political party or slate to run for office.
“In Alberta, local elections belong to Albertans,” said McIver. “We want political parties, if and when they form in Alberta, to be legitimate and do the work of engaging their communities on local issues.”
Bill 20, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, was passed in the spring and restructured municipal governance in Alberta. But the process leading up to the bill’s passing was contentious, with particular concern raised over proposals to give cabinet the power to remove a municipal councillor and to amend or repeal bylaws.
Strong opposition from organizations such as the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) and Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis), which characterized the legislation as a power grab by the province, led to the government bringing in amendments to the bill softening some of its language.
“I continue to stand by what I said in the spring and I will continue to say today — the changes we have made are good for municipalities, good for voters and good for Albertans,” said McIver.
Under the Local Authorities Election Act, the expense limits regulation creates expense limits for local candidates and third-party advertisers across Alberta, while introducing similar limits for local political parties in Edmonton and Calgary.
The new regulations also specify expense limits during both the year of the election and non-election years. These new limits tie campaign expense limits to municipal populations and automatically adjust with changes in population over time.
The next round of municipal elections across Alberta is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2025. More information about the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act can be found here.
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