The quality of services and the social environment in our cities and towns is probably the most important contributor to Albertans’ enjoyment of life.

We want safe neighborhoods with adequate police and fire and ambulance services. We need clean air and a safe water supply. Efficient sewage, transportation and utility infrastructures are essential.

Further, most of us understand just how important parks and recreational facilities are to our quality of life.

All of these vital services are provided by municipal governments. But, municipalities could not provide these services to our constantly expanding cities without provincial support – unless they raised municipal taxes to intolerable levels.

Right now, Alberta municipalities tax well below the average for similar cities in other provinces.

However, declining provincial support for municipalities is putting a real squeeze on our cities.

Total provincial transfers to Alberta municipalities have come in two forms – general-purpose grants which the cities can use as needed, and specific purpose grants for particular projects.

In 1998, both types of grants were well below 1988 levels, but the most useful, the general-purpose grants had been cut by more than 50 per cent. For example, Edmonton’s annual general purpose grants were cut by a quarter billion dollars between 1993 and 2000.

Alberta cities have cut per capita spending to the bone. They have reduced staff and controlled spending. But Albertans have to understand that the quality of our lives is going to decline if funding levels are not increased.

We have to ask ourselves why a provincial government with growing revenues (up 69% since 1992) and billion dollar surpluses is continuing to starve municipalities.

What's wrong with Alberta Labour Laws

The Alberta Federation of Labour believes that only an informed electorate will keep our democracy healthy.
With big business dominating the mass media, it is essential that alternate, reliable information be available to working people -- so that they can cast their ballots in their own best interest. As part of the effort to provide that information, the AFL has put together this political action kit for union members. It contains fact sheets on key issues that each local can either distribute to members, schedule into regular meetings, or make use of in part or in whole as they see fit.