The Municipal District of Bighorn, like many (if not all) other Alberta municipalities, relies heavily on advice and recommendations from volunteers sitting on boards, committees and commissions. While boards, committees and commissions may each have varying reasons for their existence (some bodies are required by legislation; some are "ad-hoc"- formed for single issue purposes; some are strictly advisory bodies) most are established for the following reasons:

- to provide further opportunities for public input into the political forum.
- to assist Council by reducing the workload. Boards, committees and commissions will review material, weigh alternatives, and make recommendations to Council, thus substantially reducing the turnaround time and sparing Council a great deal of work.

M.D. Council appoints representatives from both Council and the public to various boards, committees and commissions annually, at the Organizational meeting held in October. Some of the boards, committees and commissions are of an "internal operational" nature and therefore do not warrant public participation.

 

 

The following is a list of the boards/committees/commissions that the M.D. Council has either formed or participates in. A brief synopses of each bodies' role is also provided; if you would like further information, please e-mail us at bighorn@mdbighorn.ca

Agricultural Services & Environmental Advisory Board (ASEAB)
Formed pursuant to the Agricultural Services Board Act, the ASEAB provides advice and recommends direction to Council in matters pertaining to the M.D.'sagricultural programs and related environmental matters.

Assessment Review Board (ARB)
Formed pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, the ARB is a semi-judicial board formed to hear appeals on assessment matters: if a property owner feels their property's assessed value is in error, they request a hearing with the ARB, which has the power to uphold or modify that value. Decisions of the ARB cannot be appealed to Council: an application for a hearing would have to be made to the provincial Municipal Government Board.

Bighorn Corridor Environment Committee (BCEC)
This advisory body deals with environmental/eco-system issues in the Bow corridor portion of the M.D.; and is comprised of representatives of three local governments (the Towns of Banff and Canmore, and the M.D. of Bighorn), as well as Provincial environmental staff and others.

Bow Corridor Ecosystem Advisory Group (BCEAG)
This advisory body deals with environmental/eco-system issues in the Bow corridor portion of the M.D.; and is comprised of representatives of three local governments (the Towns of Banff and Canmore, and the M.D. of Bighorn), as well as Provincial environmental staff and others.

Bow Valley Inter-Agency Committee
The Bow Valley Inter-Agency Committee is a large group of agencies and volunteers that meet to share information about social programs, projects, issues and concerns affecting the lives of Bow Valley residents.

Bow Valley Waste Management Commission (BVWMC)
Another "three government" body: the Towns of Banff and Canmore, and the M.D. of Bighorn, have formed a regional commission to jointly operate the Francis Cooke Class III landfill site, and consider waste management issues on a broader scale, within the Bow Valley.

Bow Valley Regional Housing (BVRH)
The BVRH manages social and seniors housing in the Bow Valley, and is comprised of three municipalities (Banff, Canmore and M.D. of Bighorn) and twoImprovement Districts (I.D. #5, Kananaskis Country; and I.D. #9, Banff National Park). The BVRH has requisitioning powers: that is, itcan require the participating municipalities to levy a tax, in order to raise operating funds.

Community Services Board (CSB)
The CSB provides advice and policy recommendations on the M.D.'s: parks, culture, recreational and continuing education programs, social programs, and library services; and works with community groups, strengthening volunteerism in the M.D.

Emergency Services Committee (EMS)
The EMS reviews any matter pertaining to emergency services (ambulance, fire prevention/ suppression, and policing) within the M.D., and forwards comments/recommendations back to Council.

Exshaw Community Environment Committee (ECEC)
The ECEC is a community-formed and community-based group, established to monitor area environmental issues, and work with regional industries in addressing environmental concerns that may arise as a result of industrial operations. The M.D. sends two members of Council to participate in the ECEC's meetings and discussions.

Finance & Economic Development Committee
The F&ED Committee, made up of members of council, focuses on financial management, community promotion and investment in the M.D.. The committee meets quarterly, to review the financial statements and auditors reports, and to form recommendations on financial / fiscal policies for council.

Inter-Municipal Committees
The M.D. has a number of service-sharing agreements with the Town of Canmore and Cochrane. On a regular basis, two members of M.D. council meet with two members of the other municipalities' council, to discuss these agreements and other issues of mutual concern.

Marigold Regional Library Board of Directors
The M.D. is a member of the Marigold Regional Library system, in which thirty-five municipalities and three special areas have pooled resources to provide library services to an area of approximately 30,000 square kilometers, with a population base of nearly 100,000 people.

Municipal Planning Commission (MPC)
Formed pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, the MPC reviews and approves development permit applications, acts as the municipality's subdivision approving authority, and provides advice to Council on planning and development related matters.

Subdivision & Development Appeal Board (S/DAB)
Established pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, the S/DAB is a semi-judicial body, formed as an impartial board to hear appeals on development permit and subdivision applications, and stop orders issued by the municipality. Decisions of the S/DAB are final and cannot be appealed to Council: appeals, for questions of law or jurisdiction, must be taken to the Provincial Court of Appeals. The S/DAB meets only when appeals are filed with the board secretary.