Agenda Item No.: E.1.d.
Strategies to Strengthen the Linkages Between the Councils of Calgary and Edmonton
That Administration prepare a report that
identifies opportunities and strategies to
strengthen linkages between the
Councils of Calgary and Edmonton.
Motion on the Floor at City Council
MOVED M. Phair – J. Melnychuk (Made at
the December 16, 2003, City Council
meeting):
That City Council use Attachment 1 of
the December 9, 2003, Office of the City
Manager report 2003CMO092 as a guide
to strengthening linkages with the City
Council of Calgary.
Report

Recommendation:
That City Council use Attachment 1 of the
December 9, 2003, Office of the City
Manager report 2003CMO092 as a guide to
strengthening linkages with the City Council
of Calgary.
Report Summary
A number of actions are suggested to help
both City Councils be more effective in
dealing with other orders of government.

Previous Council/Committee Action
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At the January 14, 2004, Executive
Committee meeting, the December 9,
2003, Office of the City Manager report
2003CMO092 was postponed to the
January 28, 2004, Executive Committee
meeting at 1:30 p.m.
At the December 16, 2003, City Council
meeting, the above Motion on the Floor
and the December 9, 2003, Office of the
City Manager report 2003CMO092 were
referred to the January 14, 2004,
Executive Committee meeting, at 1:30
p.m.
At the October 7, 2003, City Council
meeting the following motion was
passed:
Routing:
Delegation:
Written By:
December 9, 2003
File: 2003CMO092

City Council, Executive Committee
A.B. Maurer, P.Eng.
B. Duncan, Intergovernmental Affairs
Office of the City Manager
(Page 1 of 3)
On September 24, 2003, the Councils of
Calgary and Edmonton held a discussion
in Calgary on matters of mutual interest.
Two themes seemed to be dominant,
improving the Cities’ fiscal relationship
with the Province, and working together
on provincial matters and with the
respective MLAs. Much of the
discussion centred around Edmonton
City Council’s position as stated in the
May 27, 2003, decision on “Relationship
Strategy,” part 1a (Attachment 2).
Most Councillors who were present at
the discussion believed that the two
Councils needed to be in closer contact
on the variety of matters which impact
upon both municipalities. At the
October 2, 2003, meeting of the
Intergovernmental Affairs Committee of
Calgary City Council the following
motion was passed:
“That as a result of the joint
discussion with members of
Edmonton City Council, that the
Administration be directed to prepare
a report that looks at opportunities
and strategies to strengthen linkages
between the cities and the Councils
of Calgary and Edmonton.”
As a consequence, members of both
Administrations have met to review the
various approaches and have developed
a suggested method to proceed. From
the discussions of both Administrations
Strategies to Strengthen the Linkages Between the Councils of Calgary and Edmonton
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and Councils, four major points were
made:
1. Council must work with the Province
in a positive manner,
2. a vision is needed to have agreement
between two Councils to work with
the Province,
3. the two Cities must want to work
together, and
4. the efforts of the Councils must be
coordinated and focussed.
Both Councils have met with MLAs in
an effort to raise awareness of civic
issues while endeavouring to understand
circumstances that affect the provincial
government. In addition, the two
Mayors are active participants on the
Minister’s Council on Roles,
Responsibilities and Resources. The
primary message of the Mayors is that
the two largest cities are critical to the
future of this province but both cities are
facing sustainability barriers. In short,
new and/or shared revenue sources are
required.
A vision that could be used is that the
two cities, cooperating with the
provincial government, will provide an
improved quality of life for residents,
businesses and visitors. Such a vision
will maintain and enhance the
cooperation now being exhibited by the
two cities.
Both cities have much in common and
try to respond to citizens’ needs and
desires. The citizens represent
approximately one-half of the provincial
population. Presenting a common view
on major issues is important for MLAs
and Cabinet to understand. Perhaps of
some importance is to concentrate on
major issues and not be diverted by
immediate, but minor, desires.
 A final requirement is to be focussed
upon the requests being made to the
provincial government. Two issues are
worthy of consideration: sharing of
existing provincial revenues, and adding
a municipal component to provincial
revenue streams (Attachment 2, Part 1a).
Both issues are now on the agenda of the
Minister’s Council with staff working on
an approach to be presented by the two
Mayors and two association presidents.
 Two other issues of importance are
transportation infrastructure and regional
governance. In these two areas,
preparation of joint positions for
presentation to the appropriate Standing
Policy Committees would keep the two
issues before the Province.
 There was agreement that both City
Councils need to put more effort into
keeping MLAs aware of issues common
to both cities. Knowing that both cities
have a similar position on many issues
will allow for a more consistent urban
voice in the government caucus.
Justification of Recommendation

There is a need to have an understanding
of how the linkages can be established
and maintained.
Background Information Attached
1. Strategies to Strengthen the Linkages
Between the Councils of Calgary and
Edmonton
2. Summary of Council’s Decision on
Relationship Strategy – Other Orders of
(Page 2 of 3)
Strategies to Strengthen the Linkages Between the Councils of Calgary and Edmonton
Government of May 27, 2003,
(Attachment 2 of the August 20, 2003,
Office of the City Manager Report to
City Council)
3. Response from the City of Calgary
(Page 3 of 3)
Attachment 1
Strategies to Strengthen the Linkages Between the Councils of Calgary and Edmonton
First Step
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Both Councils meet in Edmonton during the Spring Legislature session.
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The meeting would be public.
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Calgary and Edmonton MLAs would be invited to have lunch with both Councils.
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Both Councils could attend during Question Period.
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Follow-up from the meeting would be responsibility of Edmonton City Council.
Next Meeting
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Both Councils will meet again on November 17, 2004 just prior to the start of the AUMA
conference. The conference is held in Edmonton following the municipal elections.
On-going Procedures

Issues affecting both cities would be considered by the Executive Committee (Edmonton)
and the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee (Calgary). Discussion in each committee
would lead to Council decisions on action to be taken on major issues. While agreement will
be sought, it is recognized that each Council will and must act in the best interest of its city.

Civic administration will endeavour to include comments and/or positions of the other city
whenever possible in reports to committees and to Council.

Each Council should meet twice a year with the city MLAs, sharing the positions of the two
cities in addition to the specific issues of the individual city. Outcomes of the meetings with
MLAs should be shared with the other city.

Each Council should charge one member with the responsibility to ensure linkages are
maintained.
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Joint meetings involving some Council members from each city should be held with
provincial Standing Policy Committees to advance civic positions.

Civic administration is encouraged to expand consultation with the other city and to share
information received from federal and provincial governments as well as other public and
private sectors.

Council members who are on the AUMA Board or the FCM Board are expected to advance
the positions of the two cities.
Attachment 1 - Page 1 of 1
Attachment 2
Summary of Council’s Decision on Relationship Strategy – Other Orders of Government of
May 27, 2003 (Attachment 2 of the August 20, 2003 Office of the City Manager Report to
City Council)
1.
a) That the City focus its efforts to broaden its financial capacity
through:
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b)
Corporate Svcs.
sharing of existing provincial revenue streams, including
personal and corporate income tax and gaming revenues;
adding a municipal component to provincial revenue
streams, particularly in the areas of gaming revenues, fuel
taxes and contracts;
reduction of provincial education property taxes; and
elimination of provincial property tax exemptions.
That Administration inform Alberta Urban Municipalities
Association (AUMA) of City Council’s position on new
revenue sources.
2.
That the City of Edmonton reassess its continued participation in
the Minister’s Provincial/Municipal Council on Roles,
Responsibilities and Resources at the end of June 2003, depending
on the Province’s acceptance of the need for sustainable funding
arrangements for municipalities.
3.
That the agenda for the future meetings of City of Edmonton
Council and Edmonton MLAs be distributed at least one week in
advance of scheduled meetings.
4.
That Administration develop and present to City Council proposed
terms of reference for a CEO advisory body similar to that
recommended by TD Economics in its May 2003, report on the
Calgary-Edmonton corridor.
5.
That the Mayor arrange a joint meeting with the Calgary Council
and that the Mayors and Administrations work out a mutually
acceptable agenda based on a strategy to broaden our financial
framework.
6.
That all references to the communication plan be deleted and the
amended report “Relationship Strategy – Other Orders of
Government” be made public.
7.
That Administration review the potential for developing
independent revenue sources and report back to City Council.
Attachment 2 - Page 1 of 1
Mayor
Due: Aug. 26, 2003