A Municipal Sustainability Planning (MSP) provides an opportunity for communities to reflect on what they want for their community and to move proactively towards this desired state, rather than reacting to problems as they arise.

Many Alberta communities are facing the challenge of managing growth. Rapid growth in communities has lead to a number of potentially negative consequences for communities and their citizens, including:

• Conflicts due to land use
• High costs for governments to develop and maintain the necessary infrastructure and to provide services and facilities
• Difficulty of engaging a qualified and skilled labour force to carry out projects
• Difficulty for residents to access community services in the absence of bus service
• The collection of large amounts of storm water impacting groundwater levels and local treatment systems
• Difficulty in meeting emerging expectations of citizens for new services