Pincher Creek officials are welcoming a provincial plan to restore councillor codes of conduct after a year-long gap left municipalities without formal accountability standards.

Announced March 26, the province’s plan to introduce a Councillor Accountability Framework would establish a universal set of conduct standards and a third-party system for handling complaints.

This shift is welcomed by elected officials of both the Town and Municipal District of Pincher Creek.

Mayor Wayne Oliver says the framework is a positive development, though he questions the gap that preceded it.

“I welcome it, but it’s kind of an odd process,” he says. “For the last year, we haven’t had any code of conduct for any municipalities in Alberta because the government rescinded all of the code of conducts without having a replacement ready. Now they’re announcing the replacement and I welcome it.”

The proposed framework, introduced by Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams, is part of broader amendments to the Municipal Government Act aimed at strengthening accountability, transparency and integrity in local government.

The proposed reforms follow directions outlined in the province’s 2025 mandate letter and build on earlier amendments that eliminated locally developed codes of conduct, a move that created a patchwork of rules and, in some cases, inconsistent enforcement.

If passed, the new framework will establish consistent, provincewide standards governing councillor conduct, including rules around conflicts of interest, misuse of municipal assets, confidentiality, improper use of influence and serious misconduct.

It will also introduce an independent process for investigating complaints — a key change from previous systems that often relied on municipalities handling issues internally.

Complaints will be reviewed by a third-party investigator selected from a provincially appointed roster, with the possibility of appeals being heard by an independent commissioner.

The minister of municipal affairs will also have the authority to initiate investigations, while matters involving pecuniary interest and potential disqualification could proceed to court.

Williams says the changes are intended to ensure Albertans can have confidence in their local leaders.

“I believe these reforms would set clear expectations and provide impartial tools to resolve issues at a local level before they escalate,” he said at a March 26 press conference.

Local officials say the introduction of independent third-party investigations is one of the most significant aspects of the proposal.

“I think the idea that it takes away the responsibility for CAOs of municipalities to resolve disputes by having an independent third party is probably a good thing. It lessens the involvement of the CAO,” Oliver says.

Town of Pincher Creek councillor Valerie Wynder also welcomes the move.

“It’s really good to have a code of conduct that we can act upon,” she says. “There definitely needs to be oversight, and we all need to be accountable, and there needs to be a framework for that.”

Wynder adds that creating a framework that applies across municipalities is the right thing to do.

She says access to third-party investigators could be especially beneficial for smaller and rural municipalities, which may lack the capacity to conduct complex internal investigations.

At the same time, she notes potential cost implications, as municipalities are expected to cover investigation expenses.

MD of Pincher Creek officials express similar support. Coun. Tony Bruder says a formal code of conduct is essential.

“Last time [2025] we were elected, the government decided there didn’t need to be a code of conduct. And I believe there has to be something there,” Bruder says. “There has to be something that holds elected officials accountable, so I think it’s a good thing.”

Coun. John MacGarva says the idea of standardizing rules across the province is reasonable.

He says that while some municipalities have faced challenges with council dynamics, that has not been the case locally.

“I have a lot of faith and trust in our councillors in Pincher Creek, and we have been working really well as a team so far,” Oliver says. “I don’t think it’ll change too much of our day-to-day business in Pincher Creek.”

The province is also proposing amendments aimed at increasing transparency and clarifying roles within municipal government.

These include requiring municipalities to publicly disclose salaries of officials above a set threshold, similar to provincial “sunshine list” practices, and mandating that chief administrative officers report in writing on certain powers exercised outside existing bylaws or council resolutions.

The changes will also clarify expectations around councillor requests for information, an area the province says has created challenges for some municipalities in balancing transparency with administrative capacity.

Alberta Municipalities president Dylan Bressey says councillors across the province welcome accountability and want clear mechanisms to address misconduct when it arises.

“We have been calling for the reinstitution of the code of conduct for council in this province, and we are grateful to have been heard on that and see this rolling out,” he said in a statement.

Bressey points out that the previous code of conduct had some issues, including the need for a CAO to lead investigations, which he says “often presented challenging circumstances.”

Rural Municipalities of Alberta president Kara Westerlund says the organization supports clear and meaningful accountability measures that promote a respectful and collaborative environment within municipal governance.

The province will continue working with municipal associations on the rollout of the framework and related regulations in the coming months.