Nenshi calls proposed Alberta cut of council conduct rules 'an affront' to voters

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says the government's proposal to wipe out municipal councils' codes of conduct could create a free-for-all of delinquency and grift. It comes a day after Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver proposed a new bill, saying codes of conduct have been weaponized to silence dissent on municipal councils.

McIver says the changes won't offer free rein to misbehave, and the aim is to create a better system of standards that can't be misused. But Nenshi, the former Calgary mayor, says the proposed bill is part of a naked attempt to slant elections in Alberta's biggest cities in favour of conservative candidates.

Nenshi says that effort won't work, but the message to Albertans is that six months before local elections, there could be no rules governing the behaviour of municipal officials.

Kara Westerlund, president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, says some local leaders will welcome the change, but the full repeal could make it challenging to stem bad behaviour in the short term.