CALGARY, AB (September 30, 2011): Speaking this morning at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association conference, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith renewed the Wildrose call for a new deal for Alberta municipalities after PC leadership frontrunner Gary Mar indicated he would uphold the current model that undermines municipal autonomy and handcuffs their ability to meet local needs.

“This government has demonstrated a clear lack of respect for municipalities and their priorities, and Mr. Mar seems like he will carry that attitude forward,” Smith said. “We can fix the provincial-municipal funding formula to give municipalities the autonomy in decision-making and the predictability in funding they need to fund their priorities as they see fit.”

A Wildrose government would replace the patchwork of unpredictable infrastructure funding and grant programs with a legislated long-term funding formula, tied to the growth of provincial tax revenues and examine new ways to fund municipalities, including sharing a portion of budget surpluses.

“As the level of government closest to the people, municipalities have to be able to respond quickly and efficiently to what their residents require,” Wildrose Municipal Affairs Critic Paul Hinman said. “We would take decision-making power away from bureaucrats and put it back into the hands of local municipalities so they have the ability to respond to local needs.”

The Wildrose Caucus stands for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom and democracy.

-  30 -

For further information or to arrange an interview, media are invited to contact:

Brock Harrison

Director of Communications, Wildrose Caucus

Ph: 780-399-2890