Town of Redcliff Oct. 13 Council Meeting highlights

Posted on October 22, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Redcliff Town Council met on Oct. 13 to work through an agenda covering pets and backyard hens, library funding, children’s safety education, and the future of policing in Alberta – among other discussion items.

Adoption of the September 28 Minutes: Employee Benefits Decision Confirmed 

Council opened the meeting by adopting the minutes of its September 28 session. At that meeting, Councillor Kilpatrick moved to direct Administration to enter into an agreement with Alberta Municipalities for employee benefit services.

The Town will keep its existing coverage, with two exceptions:

• Short-term disability: 66.67 per cent coverage, to a weekly maximum of $1,100

• Long-term disability: 75 per cent coverage, to a weekly maximum of $1,250

 The motion carried.

 New Business on October 13 

Following the adoption of the September 28 minutes, the meeting turned to current matters.

 One Bylaw for Dogs, Cats and More 

Administration brought Animal Control Bylaw No. 2005/2026 to Council for second and third reading. Council gave the bylaw first reading on April 13.

The new bylaw combines three older bylaws into one document:

• Bylaw No. 1810/2015 (Dog Control)

• Bylaw No. 1452/2005 (Restricted Animals)

• Bylaw No. 1439/2005 (Cats)

 Council had asked for simpler animal control rules. The goal is to make the rules clearer for residents and easier for Peace Officers to enforce while keeping service levels and the purpose of the rules the same.

After first reading, Administration reviewed the draft and made several changes:

• Reorganized the definitions into alphabetical order so they are easier to find

• Added a definition for “harass” and “harassment” to address animal behaviour that does not involve contact

• Refined the offences for threatening and nuisance behaviour so each offence is clearly separate

• Matched the penalties in Schedule “A” to the offence sections they cover

The bylaw also includes the Urban Laying Hen Pilot Program, which Council approved earlier. The pilot now has its own part of the bylaw, with sections covering permits, administration and enforcement.

 Safety Smarts Donation Request 

On October 2, Administration received a donation request from Heartland Training & Support Hub, formerly the Farm Safety Centre. The organization delivers age-appropriate Safety Smarts lessons to students from Kindergarten through Grade 6.

Since 1998, the program has delivered about 45,500 presentations during 8,800 school visits, reaching 921,000 student participants. For 28 years, it has helped rural children spot hazards and make safer choices.

Heartland asked the Town to consider a $500 contribution toward delivering Safety Smarts in the 2026-2027 school year. The organization acknowledged the many demands on municipal budgets and offered a charitable donation receipt for any contribution.

Police Federation Seeks Support on Sheriffs Service 

Council received a letter from Melissa Barnes, Government Relations Advisor with the National Police Federation (NPF). The NPF represents nearly 20,000 RCMP members across Canada and abroad, including more than 3,100 in Alberta.

The NPF is inviting municipalities to join its Call to Action to the Government of Alberta. The initiative asks the province to pause further investment in an Alberta Sheriffs Police Service until it completes a comprehensive, independent and publicly available feasibility study. It also calls for evidence-based investment in policing, the justice system, mental health and addiction services, and community-based crime prevention.

The NPF has extended its deadline so councils have more time to consider the request. Municipalities that wish to take part must reply and provide their logo by October 26. The NPF also offered to make a presentation or meet with members of Council.

RCMP Wage Talks Stalled 

Council also received an update from Dylan Bressey, President of Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis), on RCMP collective bargaining. The update draws on a September 22 presentation by Treasury Board Canada to the Contract Management Committee, where municipal, provincial, territorial, federal and RCMP representatives discuss police service agreements.

The first RCMP collective agreement expired on March 31, 2023, after raising base salaries by a compounded 24 per cent over five years. The second expired on March 31, 2025, after delivering four per cent raises in each of two years and a one-time $2,500 allowance.