What councillors wear to the council table sparked a thoughtful, and at times philosophical, discussion at Cold Lake’s Dec. 16 Corporate Priorities Committee meeting. In the end, council decided not to change the rules, leaving the question of a formal dress code unresolved for now.

Council voted to accept administration’s report as information only, choosing not to amend the City’s Procedure Bylaw at this time.

How the Conversation Started

The issue surfaced early in the current council term during a routine review of the City’s Procedure Bylaw, which governs how council and committee meetings are run. As part of that review, councillors questioned whether attire should be formally addressed, particularly given that meetings are livestreamed and publicly accessible.

Administration was then asked to look at how other Alberta municipalities handle councillor attire and report back.

A Rare Practice Across Alberta

The research showed that formal dress codes for elected officials are uncommon in Alberta. After reviewing dozens of municipal procedure bylaws, administration found only two municipalities with attire requirements written into their rules.

The County of St. Paul requires formal business attire and the removal of headwear during meetings, with allowances for religious wear. The County of Grande Prairie follows a business-casual standard. No other municipalities surveyed were found to regulate councillor attire through their procedural bylaws.

Legal Hurdles Add Complexity

The discussion was further complicated by recent changes to the Municipal Government Act. Municipal council codes of conduct were repealed province-wide, including Cold Lake’s own code, which was formally repealed in June 2025.

Administration cautioned that a dress code could be challenged if it is interpreted as regulating councillor behaviour or conduct, which is no longer permitted under provincial legislation.

Leadership Over Legislation

Councillors shared a range of perspectives, with many framing the issue as one of leadership and professionalism rather than rules and enforcement.

Some expressed discomfort with the idea that municipal staff are held to appearance standards while council is not. Others felt voters elect councillors for who they are, not how they dress, as long as attire is respectful and appropriate.

There was general support for a business-casual expectation but little appetite for rigid requirements such as suit-and-tie standards. Practical concerns were also raised, including the reality that councillors often attend meetings directly from work or family commitments.

Enforcement emerged as another sticking point, with questions around how a dress code would be upheld and what consequences, if any, could realistically or legally be applied.

No Changes, For Now

Mayor Bob Mattice cautioned against introducing policies that could create unnecessary division around the council table, noting that councillors generally understand when professional attire is appropriate.

With the exception of one councillor, council agreed to leave the procedure bylaw unchanged and take no further action on a formal dress code at this time.