Alberta premier addresses civic leaders at ABMunis convention in Edmonton
Posted September 24, 2026 8:00 am.
Leaders from Alberta’s towns and cities are meeting this week in Edmonton.
Speaking at the annual Alberta Municipalities’ Convention and Trade Show on Wednesday, Premier Danielle Smith touted a new working relationship with local politicians and autonomy for city councils.
“As much as we have a great and constructive and productive relationship with the municipalities, I can say that increasingly we’re having that same relationship with the federal government,” the premier said.
“It’s almost like night and day from where we were about 18 months ago.”
Premier Smith touted her government’s investments in education, health care, and infrastructure.
She also reiterating her support for Alberta staying in Canada, adding she hopes Albertans will vote yes on other referendum questions around more control over provincial immigration and access to public services.
“I live in a tripartite world today, two provinces and a federal government,” said Gerald Aalbers, the mayor of Lloydminster, which sits on the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary. “I don’t wanna imagine what it would be like two nations and a province.”
Mayor Albers says at this week’s conference, he wants to talk to provincial leaders about a host of issues impacting the city, from infrastructure to homelessness and public safety, saying the issues impacting Alberta’s major cities are the same in smaller cities and towns across the province.
“It’s always usually a zero that separates us. From a village that needs a lagoon for $800,000; we recently built a wastewater treatment plant for $81 million; you go to a major city, it’s $800 million or more.
Premier Smith highlighted provincial investments over the summer to create more treatment beds and addiction spaces in the capital city.
Those representing Medicine Hat in southeastern Alberta tells CityNews they’re struggling with the same homelessness issues in their community, hoping they will see some of that provincial money.
“It’s always a NIMBY – not in my backyard – proposition all the time with the homeless people, so we’re trying to find out a solution where we can have a permanent residence for them,” said Medicine Hat councillor Brian Varga. “I mean, it’s gonna get cold here in a couple months and, and we’ve got a few people that are out in the cold all the time.”
The premier also said Alberta’s towns and cities could see changes in how they’re governed by the province, including a potential end to councillors debating items privately.
But Dylan Bressey, the head of the Alberta Municipalities Association, says local governments need code of conduct guidelines from the province first.
“The vast majority of councillors are running well because our people are here for the right reasons,” said Bressey, who is also a Grand Prairie city councillor. “But on the rare instances where something gets off the tracks, we don’t have the tools to hold each other accountable right now, and we desperately need them.”
The Alberta Municipalities’ convention wraps up Friday.
