MGA — Open Meetings & Public Notice Law

Sunshine Score

31/100

Weak

Methodology v0.1

Advance Notice	1 day
Public Comment	Not required
Closed Sessions	13 permitted categories
Minutes	Required
Recording	Not required
Remote Participation	Allowed
Enforcement	Void, legislature exempt

How is this score calculated? →

Agenda & Notice Requirements

Regular Meetings

1 day

Special Meetings

1 day

Online posting: Not required

s. 193: no notice required for regularly scheduled council meetings if dates, times and places were set at a public meeting with all councillors present. If the date, time, or place of a regular meeting changes, at least 24 hours' notice must be given to absent councillors and the public. s. 194: special meetings require at least 24 hours' written notice to each councillor and the public, stating purpose, date, time, and place. s. 194(4): emergency special meetings may proceed with less than 24 hours' notice if at least 2/3 of the whole council agrees in writing before the meeting.

Public Participation

Public Comment

Not required

Written Comment

Not allowed

s. 216.1 requires municipalities to have a public participation policy, but mandatory public comment at council meetings is not prescribed by the MGA meeting provisions. Public hearings are required for certain planning matters under Part 17.

Virtual Meetings

Member Remote Participation

Allowed

Counts Toward Quorum

Yes

Public Remote Comment

Not allowed

s. 199: council may by bylaw provide for council and council committee meetings to be conducted by electronic means (electronic or telephonic method enabling all persons to hear and communicate). s. 199(2.1): every council must by bylaw provide for public hearings under Part 17 to be conducted by electronic means. Members present by electronic means are deemed present for quorum purposes.

Closed Sessions

Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances

Permitted Categories

Meeting Minutes

Minutes Required

Yes

Online posting: Not required

Content requirements: s. 208(1)(a): the CAO must ensure minutes of each council meeting are recorded in English, include names of councillors present, are given to council for adoption, and record public hearing proceedings. s. 197(6): when persons other than council members attend a closed meeting, the minutes must record their names and reasons for attendance.

Recording & Broadcast

Recording Required

No

Broadcast Required

No

Enforcement

Violation Effect

Void

Standing to Sue

Any person may seek judicial review of a council decision made in violation of s. 197 or s. 181. The invalidity of a bylaw or resolution may be raised by any affected party in court.

Enforcement Body

No dedicated municipal meeting investigator. s. 181: a bylaw or resolution is not valid unless passed at a council meeting held in public with quorum — decisions made in closed session are void. s. 197(3): no resolution or bylaw may be passed at a closed meeting (except to return to public).

Scope

This law applies to:

Legislature: Exempt (follows own rules)

Sources & References

Notes

Alberta closed session exceptions (s. 197(2)) cross-reference the Access to Information Act (ATIA, SA 2024, c. A-1.4, replacing FOIP Act). violation_effect is 'void' per s. 181: bylaws not valid unless passed at a public meeting with quorum.