Global InformationList of municipalities in Alberta information
Alberta is the fourth-most populous province in Canada with 4,262,635 residents as of 2021 Census of Population and is the fourth-largest in land area at 634,658 km2 (245,043 sq mi).[1] Alberta's 344 municipalities cover 99.7% of the province's land mass and are home to 99% of its population.[2][a] These municipalities provide local government services, including roads, water, sewer and garbage collection among others, and a variety of programs to their residents.[4][5]
According to the Municipal Government Act (MGA), which was enacted in 2000, a municipality in Alberta is "a city, town, village, summer village, municipal district or specialized municipality, a town under the Parks Towns Act, or a municipality formed by special Act".[6] The MGA also recognizes improvement districts and special areas as municipal authorities while Metis settlements are recognized as municipalities by the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Municipal Affairs.[6][7] Cities, towns, villages, summer villages, municipal districts, specialized municipalities and improvement districts are formed under the provincial authority of the MGA.[6] Special areas and Metis settlements are formed under the provincial authority of the Special Areas Act (SAA) and the Metis Settlements Act (MSA) respectively, of which both were enacted in 2000.[8][9] As provincial law, the MGA, the SAA and the MSA were passed by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta with royal assent granted by the Lieutenant Governor.[10]
Of Alberta's 344 municipalities, 257 of them are urban municipalities (19 cities, 106 towns, 81 villages and 51 summer villages), 6 are specialized municipalities, 73 are rural municipalities (63 municipal districts, 7 improvement districts and 3 special areas) and 8 are Metis settlements.[2] The MGA, the SAA and the MSA stipulate governance of these municipalities.[6][8][9] Alberta's Ministry of Municipal Affairs is responsible for providing provincial services to municipalities.[11]
Over half of Alberta's population resides in its two largest cities. Calgary, the largest city, is home to 30.7% of the province's population (1,306,784 residents), while Edmonton, Alberta's capital city, is home to 23.7% (1,010,899 residents).[3] Improvement District No. 13 (Elk Island). Improvement District No. 12 (Jasper National Park) and Improvement District No. 25 (Willmore Wilderness) are Alberta's smallest municipalities by population; they are unpopulated according to the 2021 Census of Population.[3][b] The largest municipality by land area is Mackenzie County at 79,629.26 km2 (30,745.03 sq mi), while the smallest by land area is the Summer Village of Castle Island at 0.05 km2 (0.019 sq mi).[3]
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2021 and 2016 censuses – 100% data". Statistics Canada. March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
- ^ a b "2021 Municipal Codes" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. February 11, 2021. p. 1 of 13. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
2021censuswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "What Are Municipalities?". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ "The Provisions of Programs and Services Through Municipalities". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Municipal Government Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter M–26 (Office Consolidation)" (PDF). Alberta Queen's Printer. June 17, 2013. pp. 30–31, 47, 64–66, 69, 306. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Types Of Municipalities In Alberta". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
- ^ a b "Special Areas Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter S–16 (Office Consolidation)" (PDF). Alberta Queen's Printer. May 27, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ a b "Metis Settlements Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter M–14 (Office Consolidation)" (PDF). Alberta Queen's Printer. June 17, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Information Sheet: The Legislative Assembly of Alberta" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. p. 2. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ^ "About The Ministry of Municipal Affairs". Alberta Municipal Affairs. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2011 Census – Notes (Adjustment of population counts)". Statistics Canada. January 30, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
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