Building a Stronger Alberta Starts at Home Through Intermunicipal Collaboration

I ran in the last municipal election because I saw firsthand how much local decisions matter. Roads, water, services, and economic growth are not abstract issues. They affect real people, in real communities, every day. That is also why municipal collaboration matters more than most people realize.

During the campaign, I heard from people in neighborhoods and rural areas about challenges that do not stop at city limits. Water and wastewater systems, aging infrastructure, and economic development all cross municipal boundaries. That gave me a deeper appreciation for how much municipalities depend on each other, even when that does not always get talked about.

Why this matters now

As Alberta moves toward the October 19 referendum, uncertainty is starting to build. And uncertainty has consequences.

When businesses hold back, when investment slows, and when long-term planning gets harder, municipalities feel it quickly. We are the ones trying to keep budgets balanced, infrastructure maintained, and services moving forward while the bigger picture keeps shifting.

That is why it stood out to me when the mayors of Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer, Andrew Knack, Jeromy Farkas, and Cindy Jefferies, came together with a shared message. They raised concerns about the referendum process and encouraged Albertans to take part. That kind of agreement does not happen every day, and it matters.

What collaboration looks like

I have also been following the conversations coming out of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Edmonton, and it reinforces something I have seen firsthand. Municipal leaders do their best work when they are willing to share ideas and solve problems together.

That spirit of collaboration is already part of how Alberta works. Alberta Municipalities and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta both play important roles in bringing communities together. Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks, which were introduced in 2017, also help neighboring municipalities plan and deliver shared services.

That may sound technical, but the result is very practical. It means better transportation planning. It means stronger coordination on emergency services where needed. It means making limited dollars go further, especially in smaller or rural communities that do not have the same capacity as larger cities.

Where it matters most

Some of the biggest issues Alberta is facing right now are also the ones that depend most on collaboration.

Infrastructure remains a major one. The province has committed $7.1 billion over three years for municipal infrastructure, but many rural communities still face serious gaps, especially with aging water and wastewater systems.

Water and wastewater are another example. These are not just local maintenance issues. They require regional planning, stable funding, and in some cases, coordination around water licensing and capacity.

Economic development is another. Alberta is trying to grow in areas like aviation, aerospace, and defence. Those opportunities do not land neatly in one municipality. They need regional alignment on infrastructure, labor, and long-term planning.

A personal reflection

Running in a municipal election changes how you see these issues. You start to understand how connected everything really is, and how much quiet work happens behind the scenes just to keep communities running.

It also makes one thing very clear. Municipalities are not nearly as isolated as people sometimes assume. More often than not, they are depending on each other.

That is something worth remembering when bigger political debates start to take over.

Looking ahead

Alberta’s strength has always come from its communities. And strong communities are built by municipalities that are willing to work together, share resources, and think long term.

The conversations happening right now at the municipal level, at conferences like FCM, and among local leaders across the province are all pointing in the same direction.

Collaboration matters.

At a time when uncertainty is high, that may be one of the most important tools we have. As Albertans prepare to vote on October 19, it is worth remembering that strong municipalities, working together, are part of what makes a strong Alberta.

What collaboration issues have you seen in your community?