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<< back to all events30th Annual Northern Municipal Law Seminar
Coming to two cities in February and March, our Municipal Law Seminars will feature sessions from our industry leaders on timely issues and trends facing municipalities in Alberta.
Our 30th Annual Northern Municipal Law Seminar will take place in person and virtually on Friday, March 6, 2026 in Grande Prairie.
Sessions at this year’s seminar will include:
| Mind the Gap: Limits on Municipal Powers The Municipal Government Acts gives Alberta municipalities broad authority including natural person powers – except to the extent that they are limited by the MGA or other legislation. This session will explore the some of the important restrictions and limitations on a municipality’s natural person powers that are sometimes overlooked. Topics of discussion include contract law, procurement and trade agreements, and the use and disposal of land. |
| Down to Brass Tax: Managing Municipal Sales Tax This session will address common issues, questions, and best practices for municipalities during the tax sale process. We will review the relevant sections of the MGA and discuss timing and process for tax arrears recovery steps. The session will provide practical tips for conducting public auctions of tax forfeiture properties – as well as what to do if a property does not sell at auction. |
| Approaches for the Use and Application of Surveillance Technologies in the Workplace With advances in technology, organizations increasingly rely on video surveillance, GPS monitoring, and other electronic tools to monitor workplace and worksite activities. This session examines appropriate boundaries and best practices for implementing these tools, including their use in employee discipline, performance management, and managing difficult employees or contractors, while balancing oversight with privacy, safety, and security considerations. |
| Pay to Play: Off-Site Levy Requirements and Challenges Off-site levies are an important tool for municipalities to manage and distribute the costs associated with growth and development. However, off-site levy bylaws can be the subject of challenge by members of the development community for various reasons. This session will provide an overview of the legislative requirements in relation to off-site levies and discuss potential and actual challenges to off-site levy bylaws. |
The day will conclude with a bear pit-style session where you will have the opportunity to ask our panel of lawyers your pressing legal questions.
Full agenda and event details will be sent to registrants closer to the event.
