Penhold seconds controversial Calgary resolution for debate at Alberta Conference of Municipalities

Access: Penhold Town Council.

Mike Yargo, mayor of the small central Alberta city south of Red Deer, has a working relationship with Calgary city councilor Courtney Walcott, a key proponent of the resolution, through his seat on the board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

But Mayor Yargo wants a few things to be clear.

“We have not discussed what is in the proposal; rather, we have discussed whether or not we support the proposal, which does not necessarily mean that we agree with it. It means we agree with the idea that we should at least allow members of Alberta municipalities to have a discussion,” Yarjo explains.

“Based on the discussion, we have some councilors who may disagree, but we decided to send it to the conference.”

Yargo also said the ordinances passed in ABMunis do not legally oblige the province to implement them by legislation.

“I don't think we even have permanent residents in Penhold, but that's one of the big reasons I think it's important to hear from Calgary why it's important to some of their councils,” he added. “I don't necessarily understand the problem, but it would be nice to get some insight.”

After Calgary City Council approved sending the application to AB Muniz, both Alberta's premier and minister of municipal affairs commented on the matter.

Minister Rick McIver, former Calgary City Councillor, clearly stated “The Government of Alberta has been clear from the beginning: only Canadian citizens can vote in civic elections. That won't change.”

Inside post on social media, Prime Minister Daniel Smith said the council “voted to allow non-citizens to vote in civil elections. I believe that only Canadian citizens can vote in federal, provincial and municipal elections.”

Yarjo believes the couple's claims are misleading.

“The premier and the minister, I think they know how the election law is set up in Alberta, it's not by the municipalities. But they both made statements implying that Calgary had passed a law allowing non-Canadians to vote, which was not the case at all,” he said, calling their statements disappointing.

“Again, I don't understand every issue, every municipality may have different issues. But just because I don't understand it or don't see it in my daily life doesn't mean it's not worth discussing.”

Yarjo says we should all be open to learning.

“As elected leaders, it's our job to listen and have the sometimes uncomfortable conversations. I know we'll have people from even Penhold who may disagree in the end, but that's okay, they don't have to. The point is, we can have that discussion and go from there.”

—

Subscribe to us for FREE download the newsletter rdnewsNOW mobile app All the latest updates on this and other events on Google Play and the Apple App Store.