The Collaboration Crisis
Welcome to Municipal Affairs
Today, we reflect on the end of an era of regional cooperation in the Edmonton Metro Region.
For the past 17 years, the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board — or EMRB — has played a critical role as the growth management board for the region. It’s driven collaboration on key regional initiatives, tackling everything from land use and transportation infrastructure to housing, agriculture, and environmental stewardship. The EMRB has been a platform where municipalities have come together to plan not just for today, but for the region’s long-term future.
But all of that is coming to an unexpected end.
On November 22, 2024, the Government of Alberta announced that it would not renew funding for the EMRB in Budget 2025. Perhaps even more surprising, membership in the board would become voluntary moving forward. Member municipalities were left with a significant decision: continue participation without provincial support — or walk away.
After intense discussions and votes, they’ve made their choice. Last week, it was announced that the board would wind down, ceasing operations entirely as of April 1st.
So what does this mean for regional collaboration moving forward?
Is this the start of a crisis in municipal cooperation across Alberta?
To help us understand the lead-up to this monumental decision and what happens next, I’m joined by Allan Gamble, Chair of the EMRB and Mayor of Parkland County.
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