RMWB Budget meeting, February 9, 2026
FORT McMURRAY — The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will overhaul its advisory committee structure beginning in 2027 after council approved a new committees bylaw aimed at improving efficiency and reducing duplication.
The changes follow a 2025 review that identified overlapping mandates, duplicated membership and operational inefficiencies among several advisory bodies.
Four new committees will replace a number of existing groups.
A new Wood Buffalo Public Art and Beautification Advisory Committee will combine the responsibilities of the Communities in Bloom Committee and the Public Art Committee.
The Wood Buffalo Business and Development Advisory Committee will replace the Wood Buffalo Development Advisory Committee and the Wood Buffalo Pro-Business Advisory Committee.
A Wood Buffalo Revitalization Advisory Committee will assume the work previously carried out by the Wood Buffalo Waterfront Advisory Committee and the Wood Buffalo Downtown Revitalization Advisory Committee.
Council also approved the creation of an Animal Welfare Advisory Committee to provide advice on animal welfare issues, addressing what the municipality described as a gap in its advisory structure.
Several committees will be discontinued. The Community Standards Appeal Committee will be removed from the committees bylaw because it is governed under its own stand-alone bylaw. The Wood Buffalo Transportation Advisory Committee and the Vehicle for Hire Committee will also be eliminated after remaining inactive for an extended period.
Council approved amendments allowing the Advisory Committee on Aging and the Regional Advisory Committee on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity to remain as stand-alone committees.
The inclusion, diversity and equity committee will receive an updated mandate focused on human rights, equity, inclusion and diversity for marginalized communities in the region. Membership will increase from nine to 11 members with the addition of one voting councillor and one public-at-large representative.
The Community Investment Program Approval Committee will also continue under a separate bylaw.
The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027, allowing current committees to complete their existing terms before the new structure is implemented.
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