DIDSBURY - A policy and governance committee has completed a review of the Town of Didsbury's code of conduct bylaw, making a number of recommendations for future council consideration.
The committee discussed the code last month after the legislation was referred to the committee for review in September 2024.
“To ensure the continuity of knowledge and experience, the current sitting council may make recommendations to council in its 2026 review of the bylaw,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
The committee made a total of six recommendations following its review of the bylaw.
• Addition of a provision that requires council members to follow all relevant federal and provincial statues including but not limited to the Alberta and Canadian Human Rights Act, Access to Information Act, Protection of Privacy Act, LAEA, and Municipal Government Act.
• Addition of provision pertaining to politicization, election campaigning, etc.
• Addition of greater clarity as to what can be considered for sanctions.
• Addition of provision that grants different thresholds or standards for code of conduct violations that pertain to the reputation of the municipality, its representatives, or officers.
• Addition of a provision that establishes and allows for the utilization of a sanctions committee and/or integrity commissioner and additions thereto.
• General modernization to align with changes to legislation as they pertain to conflict of interest, access to information and protection of privacy.
Under Section 18.1 of the town’s code of conduct bylaw, the legislation must be reviewed following a general municipal election as determined by the Local Authorities Election Act.
“Given that the bylaw will be thoroughly reviewed in 2026, the committee is recommending that the bylaw not be brought forward until 2026 to be consistent with this provision of the bylaw,” administration said in the briefing note.
Council received the committee’s recommendations as information.
