DIDSBURY - Town of Didsbury's council has come out in support of efforts to keep party politics out of municipal elections.
The move came by way of motion at a recent, regularly-scheduled council meeting, held in person and online.
Alberta Municipalities, representing more than 200 municipalities, has started a campaign aimed at keeping municipal elections non-partisan.
Called ‘Join the Call,' the campaign comes after a survey by the Alberta government reportedly found the vast majority of respondents were opposed or strongly opposed to party politics at the municipal level.
Rural Municipalities of Alberta, representing 69 rural municipalities including Mountain View County, has also come out opposed to party politics at the municipal level.
Town of Didsbury councillor Dorothy Moore weighed in on the issue during the March council meeting
“There is overwhelming support for not doing this (introducing party politics), except for the cities. There’s no way the political parties make sense in a small town,” she said.
The town's mayor, Rhonda Hunter, said keeping party politics out of local elections ensures council decisions are not based on following party lines.
“It is especially important at the municipal level that elected representatives are representing the people of the community, and only the people of the community,” Hunter said.
“The current system on non-partisan politics in municipal government creates a platform for healthy dialogue and debate among election officials that benefits the people we serve in our communities.”
Deputy mayor Curt Engel said it is important that the public be made aware of the issue.
Council voted to support Alberta Municipalities in its mission to keep political parties out of local elections and to release a public statement demonstrating their stance. T
The Alberta government has not introduced legislation calling for party politics at the municipal level.
