On impact assessment

While the TILMA was signed between Alberta and B.C. with no apparent input from affected parties (other than the businesses who got "everything they asked for"), it won't be able to go any further without facing serious questions from others who stand to lose out. And Joe at Owls and Roosters notes that at least one of Saskatchewan's largest stakeholders sees major problems with the deal:

An administrative report by Saskatoon’s city solicitor, tabled at city council’s Feb. 26, 2007, meeting, reviews “the possible effects of a TILMA-type agreement on The City of Saskatoon.”

According to the solicitor “the right of cities to local choice has been considerably strengthened in recent years by both the courts and legislation.” It appears, though, that TILMA would strip Saskatchewan municipalities of that right.

One example of citizens exercising their right to local choice is through petitions and referendums. In Saskatoon, the issues of Sunday shopping and a downtown casino were decided in referendums. With TILMA, “referendums would not have recognition or priority.” Citizens would lose this critical component of direct democracy.

Business subsidies, smoking bylaws, residential housing standards and the enhancement of downtown are just some of the issues the solicitor’s report shows that would be impacted by TILMA.

“Cities like Saskatoon, which have a long history of doing things first and doing things differently, will be at the greatest risk of TILMA challenges,” said the solicitor.

Sadly, the Star-Phoenix doesn't seem to have picked up on the report - meaning that the analysis hasn't likely received much distribution within the city.

But there should be no doubt that Saskatoon's City Council is now acutely aware of the problems underlying the TILMA. And if more municipalities in Saskatchewan and elsewhere learn just what their counterparts in B.C. and Alberta are already facing, that can only bode well for the ability of other provinces to avoid the mistake of signing on to the deal.