This study provides a detailed examination of local government structures and political practices in Alberta, drawing on legislative frameworks, statistical data, and institutional analysis. In Alberta’s Local Governments and Their Politics, Jack Masson surveys municipal organization, elections, administration, planning, finance, and intergovernmental relations, addressing both urban and rural forms of local government as well as specialized arrangements such as counties and regional bodies.
The book traces the development of local governance from the late nineteenth century through the late twentieth century, with particular attention to democratic participation, the role of elected officials and civil servants, municipal reorganization, and the relationship between local authorities and the provincial government, presenting a province-wide overview of how local politics function in practice.
