EDMONTON – Alberta rural councillors want the length of their term in office increased to four years from three.
Jim Lougheed with Red Deer County said just when new rural councillors are getting settled into their jobs, it’s time for another election.
Adding one more year to their terms would allow more continuity when dealing with rural problems, he added.
“I just think adding a year allows people to establish a little more consistent relationships,” he said.
Alberta is one of three provinces that haven’t switched to longer terms.
Read Also
Phosphate prices to remain high
Phosphate prices are expected to remain elevated, according to Mosaic’s president.
On the Prairies, Manitoba has four years, while Saskatchewan has two year terms for rural councillors and three year terms for urban councillors.
British Columbia has three-year terms.
The other provinces have moved to four years.
By voting to extend the length of their terms, the rural councillors are following in the footsteps of their urban counterparts at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, who voted recently to extend their term to four years.
Lougheed said extended terms would allow municipalities to have more time to plan and implement their agendas. Most projects need long-term planning, and grant fund programs are not designed for quick answers.
Lougheed said it’s now up to the provincial government to make the change, but it has said it won’t consider it any time soon.
Gary Taje of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass opposed the motion.
“Three years is lots. It’s a volunteer thing, not a job,” he said.
“This is not a job, it’s helping our community out.”
