ST. PAUL – A Town of St. Paul councillor said the proposed membership fees for Alberta Bilingual Municipal Association’s (ABMA) is insulting, criticizing the structure of being unfair to smaller municipalities.
ABMA advocates bilingualism as a driver for municipal economic development in the province, according to the association’s website. As of 2023, ABMA had 19 member municipalities, including Lakeland municipalities like the Town and the M.D. of Bonnyville, Lac La Biche County, and the Town and the County of St. Paul.
During the Town of St. Paul’s March 24 council meeting, members discussed a letter from ABMA outlining a new fee schedule for municipalities.
The proposal suggests membership fees ranging from $150 for villages to $1,100 for cities and counties.
“We are confident that, with your support, we can enhance the value of our association and strengthen our collective impact. These contributions will help us expand our initiatives, provide more resources to our members, and advocate effectively for the needs of bilingual communities across Alberta,” reads AMBA Chair Elisa Brosseau’s letter. Brosseau is also the mayor for the Town of Bonnyville.
Towns with a population over 2,000, like St. Paul, would pay $700, while larger municipalities like Grande Prairie would pay $1,100.
Taylor found the difference troubling. Expressing disappointment, he said, “I think it drastically weighs in the benefit of large-scale municipalities that have the tax revenue to put money towards the association and requires more to be paid by smaller communities.”
“I’m fine with paying the $700, but I think that Grande Prairie paying $1,100 is an insult to the association,” he said, arguing the fee structure disproportionately burdens smaller municipalities, forcing them to contribute a higher percentage of their budgets, compared to larger cities.
Coun. Ron Boisvert, also a board member of ABMA, said that not all ABMA members are on board with the proposed fees and discussions within the association continue.
“They had to be careful on these, because not everybody agrees with the fees,” he said. “But you’ve got to start somewhere.”
Mayor Maureen Miller acknowledged Taylor’s thoughts, but agreed ABMA has to start somewhere, given the association’s contributions to the town in the past. For example, ABMA helped the town translate documents to Francophone in the past, including tourism-related documents, to enhance accessibility for both anglophone and francophone residents and visitors.
“We have to start somewhere, and then figure out where that pressure point is,” she said.
Taylor remained firm, stating he wants more equitable treatment between municipalities.
“Even the large towns in this province will treat smaller towns the way that cities treat smaller cities,” he said. “And we should all be treating each other a little bit more equitably.”
After discussions, council voted to include the $700 ABMA membership fee in its budget.
