Alberta to introduce provincewide code of conduct for municipal councils

Alberta’s government says it will introduce legislation in the coming weeks to establish a provincewide code of conduct governing municipal councils, along with third-party oversight for ethics complaints.

Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said the proposed changes are intended to prevent misuse of local rules and improve public trust in elected officials. According to the minister, the legislation would bring in independent investigators to review complaints and would require public disclosure of municipal officials’ salaries.

The move follows a 2025 decision by Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government to prohibit municipalities from creating their own codes of conduct. At the time, the province said some councils were using those rules to silence dissent among elected members.

Dylan Bressey, president of Alberta Municipalities, said the organization has been calling for the return of conduct rules and supports the inclusion of independent oversight in the proposed system.

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the plan, saying the provincial government has faced its own ethics concerns and should not be responsible for overseeing municipal conduct. Connect Newsroom contacted the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for additional details on timelines and implementation. No response by publication time.