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Town of Ponoka Council Meeting Highlights - May 12, 2026

These Council highlights are intended to provide a brief overview of the most significant decisions made during the Council meeting. To access more information about the items listed below and to view the full Council meeting agendas, minutes and meeting schedules, please click here.

Regular Meeting of Council:

6.1      Bylaw No. 07-2026 Tax Rate Bylaw

Council approved the second and third reading of Tax Rate Bylaw No. 07-2026, which sets out the rates of taxation for the 2026 year. The Town of Ponoka proposed a municipal tax increase of two per cent equates to an increase of approximately $17.73 per $100,000 of assessment for residential and $23.14 per $100,000 for non-residential properties, which is lower than inflationary cost increases.

In the annual property tax notice that residents receive from the Town of Ponoka each year, the Town is required to collect:

  • the municipal property tax, 
  • the Alberta Government’s education tax, 
  • Rimoka Housing Foundation requisition and
  • Designated industrial property tax requisition. 


The Government of Alberta has increased the education tax for Ponoka residents by 11 per cent again this year. This equates to an increase of approximately $6.30 per $100,000 for assessment and $13.89 per $100,000 for non-residential properties. In 2025, the provincial government increased the education property tax by 10.8 per cent. Money collected through the education tax is sent directly to the provincial government.

Residential assessment of properties in the Town of Ponoka increased by $71.4 million, and non-residential assessment increased by $23.4 million for a total overall increase of $94.8 million over the 2025 assessment.

6.2      Conference Request: 2026 Rural Health Professions Action Plan Conference

Council approved Councillor Lloyd to attend the 2026 Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RHPAP) Conference in Peace River from October 6 to 8. This will be funded from Council’s conference/education and travel/subsistence budgets.

7.1      Rescind Policy GOV-002-006 Town Council Appointed Boards and Committees Code of Conduct

Council approved a motion to rescind Policy GOV-002-006 Town Council Appointed Boards and Committees Code of Conduct.

In May 2025, the Alberta Government’s Bill 50 repealed Part 5, Division 1.1 of the Municipal Government Act in its entirety, which eliminated the statutory requirement for Council codes of conduct and removed authority for municipalities to adopt or enforce codes of conduct for council committees and other bodies.

Rescinding the Council Appointed Boards and Committees Code of Conduct Policy will ensure that the Town of Ponoka’s governance framework remains current, lawful and transparent.

7.2      Alberta Rural Health Week Proclamation

Council proclaimed the week of May 25 to 29 as Alberta Rural Health Week in the Town of Ponoka.

To learn more about Alberta Rural Health Week, please visit Rhpap.ca/about/alberta-rural-health-week/

7.3      Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee Sponsorship Request

Council declined the sponsorship request in the amount of $1,200 from the Ponoka Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee in support of the Stampede event planned for Ponoka physicians on June 26, 2026.

Instead, Council approved a sponsorship commitment of up to $1,200 for a future Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee event, provided the event is open to all healthcare professionals.

7.4      Sponsorship Request – ‘The Ralph’ Vold Memorial Golf Tournament

Council approved a gold sponsorship in the amount of $2,500 for the ‘The Ralph’ Vold Memorial Golf Tournament to be funded from Council’s advertising and sponsorship budget and requests that at the conclusion of the tournament, the Town of Ponoka is provided with statement of profit or loss for the event.

7.5      Terms and Conditions, Auction Date and Reserve Bid

In order to meet the Municipal Government Act (MGA) requirements for the tax recovery process as outlined in the MGA:

  • Council approved the Terms and Conditions as presented.
  • Council approved the Auction Date and time for the tax sale properties on Tuesday, August 4 at 3 p.m.
  • Council approved the Reserve Bid for the property location at Lot 5, Block B, Plan 6114ET, LINC #0017411679 at $70,000.

10       Correspondence Items

Council accepted the two letters that Mayor Ferguson sent to the Honourable Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Alberta, and the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada as information.The letters were about a recent prolific offender who had 97 outstanding charges and their impact on the community of Ponoka.

11       Information Items

Council accepted the Parkland Regional Library System Audited Financial Statements and the 2025 Annual Report infographic as information. To view these items, please click here.

12       Notices of Motion

Councillor Lloyd submitted a Notice to Motion to request Town Administration to provide communication to committees in regards to the rescinding of Policy GOV-002-006 (Town Council Appointed Boards and Committees Code of Conduct), so that all members are aware of the implications of the passing of Alberta Government’s Bill 50 and the upcoming Bill 28.

Next Regular Council Meeting: Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m.

  • The public is welcome to attend all Council meetings. Meetings are held in Town Council Chambers on the third floor of the Ponoka Civic Centre (5604 50 Street).