Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Rural Albertans say they’re being penalized by high utility fees and some municipalities are asking the government to step in and equalize costs throughout the province.

Alberta’s municipal leaders say code of conduct investigations put councillors in a difficult position with peers and the public, and they are asking the province to establish an Independent Office of Integrity to take over the responsibility.

Rural municipalities say a series of government policy decisions have cost them $332 million in tax revenue over the last three years, and the group is urging the province to make changes to ease the financial strain on rural communities.

Thousands of kilometres of rural roads and highways in Alberta are nearing the end of their useful lives

Town of Innisfail says vote counting cost will double after Smith confirms electronic counting machines banned

The Government of Alberta says that starting in 2025, it will reverse its rate hike on capital project loans to local authorities, a policy that is expected to save municipalities millions.

Recent layoffs of caseworkers in the provinces Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program will likely affect hundreds of families and add to what advocates say is an “exceedingly long” waitlist to access supports.

Substantial investments from the province are needed to prevent the deterioration of thousands of Alberta’s bridges, according to a report from the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.

Last week, Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange played down concerns that transferring the operation of some hospitals to Covenant Health would negatively impact reproductive health care, but the minister’s claim about abortion access is contradicted by provincial policy and data.

A new report says rental rate increases are starting to level out, a welcome sign for the nearly 40 per cent of Canadians concerned about their ability to afford housing because of rising prices.