Barrhead County council has formally opted out of an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) agreement with Sturgeon County.
Council passed a bylaw repealing the agreement during its regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 1.
Alberta’s Municipal Government Act (MGA) previously required the region to complete these agreements with all municipalities sharing a common boundary, including Sturgeon County, Westlock County, Lac Ste. Anne County, Woodlands County and one urban municipality.
The county says changes made to the MGA in 2025 allow rural municipalities to opt out of ICF agreements with rural neighbours, provided both parties agree. On Aug. 25 this year, Sturgeon County council supported a bylaw to repeal the ICF with the County of Barrhead and its own remaining rural municipal neighbours.
According to the rationale in the agenda, there is a limited need for shared services between rural municipalities, and the cost and effort to negotiate and maintain ICF agreements outweigh the benefits.
The county also says that opting out does not affect existing service or mutual aid agreements, nor does it limit future collaboration opportunities.
As such, officials say the following services will remain in place:
- Emergency Services and the associated Mutual Aid Fire Agreement
- Referral of all subdivision proposals and applications for significant discretionary development permits (as per the Land Use Bylaw)
Council also directed administration to notify the Minister of Municipal Affairs of the change, and to publish the rationale for the decision on the county website.
