Petitions are a formal written request signed by a group of citizens and submitted to an official person or organized body (example, County Council) to initiate an action or to make Council aware of an issue of public concern. Petitions are regulated and prescribed by the Municipal Government Act (“MGA”) and there are strict legal requirements for a petition made in accordance to the MGA.
In addition to the sample Petition, Affidavit and Statement of Representative of Petitioners found in Appendix D, E and F of the Petition to council: Information for Albertans, elected officials and municipal officers, please find below links to a sample Petition, Affidavit, and Statement of Representative of Petitioners specific to a Local Improvement. These samples are not a replacement for consulting legislation or obtaining legal advice, you are encouraged to consult legal counsel for advice on specific situations.
- Petition Sample - Local Improvement
- Affidavit Sample - Local Improvement
- Statement of Representative of Petitioners Sample - Local Improvement
Lastly, in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, in particular s. 226.2(1)- Protection of personal information in petitions, Lac La Biche County is required to protect any personal information contained in a petition. As such, any personal information contained in a petition must not be disclosed to anyone except the Chief Administrative Officer and/or delegates (if any) and the personal information must not be used for any purpose other than validating the petition.
Petition to the Minister of Municipal Affairs
Petitions may also be presented to the Minister of Municipal Affairs on five specific matters: to form a Municipality, to change the status of a Municipality, to undertake a viability review, to appoint an auditor, or for an Inspection into the affairs of a Municipality. Information on these types of Petitions is outlined in the Petition to the Minister publication created by Alberta Municipal Affairs. This publication is not a legal document and is not a replacement for consulting legislation or obtaining legal advice, you are encouraged to consult legal counsel for advice on specific situations.
Informal Petitions or Letters of Concern
Citizens may also carry out an informal petition which may provide public opinion to County Council; however, it has no legal authority in accordance with the MGA. Individual letters of concern is another way to forward your opinion concerns to County Council, these submissions are managed in accordance with the Correspondence and Submissions at Public Meetings Policy.
Contact Information:
For more information, please contact Legislative Services at legservices@laclabichecounty.com or call 780-623-1747 and ask to speak with a Legislative Services Coordinator.
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