Municipal Alberta
Mapping Out Land Use Strategy
AIRDRIE -- In an effort to keep the city and development companies on the same page, a consulting firm has been hired to advise the city on developing the 19 quarter-sections which officially became part of Airdrie Aug. 19. (Airdrie Echo)
Toilet Rebates Floated
CALGARY -- The city of Calgary is encouraging homeowners to replace large, water guzzling toilets with smaller, more efficient ones. (CBC News)
Housing Policy Under Attack
BANFF -- Without the need-to-reside clause "Banff as we know it would be destroyed." (Banff Crag & Canyon)
Annexation Deal In Doubt
CALGARY -- A curve ball was thrown council's way on the proposed annexation of MD of Rocky View lands by the City of Airdrie. (Rocky View Times)
Landlord Bylaw Evicted
WETASKIWIN -- The City won't mire landlords in the water collection business. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser Online)
Franchise Fee Gets A Jolt
CAMROSE -- The electrical municipal franchise fee is increasing. (Camrose Canadian)
New Digs For County
DIDSBURY -- Following their ratepayers' wishes, Mountain View County Council voted 5-1 to build a new administration building rather than renovate the 40-year-old one they are currently in. (Didsbury Review Online)
P3s Proving Popular
DRAYTON VALLEY -- Parents in Drayton Valley just aren't willing to wait 10 years to replace the venerable H.W. Pickup junior high school. (Drayton Valley Western Review)
P3s Highlight Infrastructure Report
EDMONTON -- Developing public-private partnerships (P3s) and establishing long-term contracts for the purchase of green power highlight the list of activities for Alberta Infrastructure's 2002-03 Annual Report. (Government of Alberta Press Release)
Permits Skyrocket
DRUMHELLER -- Despite uncertainties in today's economy, Drumheller is seeing growth as the value of building permits in the area has skyrocketed over last year. (Drumheller Mail)
Taps Turned Down -- Forever
LACOMBE -- The Town of Lacombe has officially implemented a permanent water restriction. (Lacombe Globe)
Report Notes CAO's Shortcomings
CAROLINE -- Caroline council acted swiftly to implement the first recommendations contained in a report about the municipal inspection of the Village by Municipal Affairs. (Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer)
Park Takeover Pondered
SYLVAN LAKE -- The Town of Sylvan Lake is considering acquiring Sylvan Lake Provincial Park and Jarvis Bay Provincial Park from the province. (Sylvan Lake News)
Location, Location, Location
EDMONTON -- Councillor Ron Hayter would like the city to consider a payroll surcharge for those city employees who live outside city boundaries. (CBC Edmonton)
AUMA Delegates Stress Sustainability
PEACE RIVER -- Municipal leaders met in Calgary Sept. 24-27 at the AUMA annual conference, where the loudest and clearest message to the province was sustainability. (Peace River Record Gazette)
The $64,000 Question
ST. ALBERT -- Municipal Affairs Minister Guy Boutilier assured municipalities that he was committed to giving them a new deal on funding and revenues, but some elected officials have their doubts. Link expires Sat. Oct 4. (stalbertgazette.com)
Low Interest Energy Loans
EDMONTON -- Alberta municipalities will have access to $100 million in interest-free loans through a new program to help their operations become more energy and cost efficient. (Government of Alberta Press Release)
Partnerships A Priority
EDMONTON -- Partnerships with municipalities and members of Alberta's safety system continued to form a solid foundation for Municipal Affairs' work in 2002-03. (Government of Alberta Press Release)
GST Fight Brewing
BONNYVILLE -- The town of Bonnyville may be hiring a GST lawyer to help it fight a ruling that could cost it over $132,000. (Bonnyville Nouvelle)
Organizational Review Highlights
COLD LAKE -- As a result of an organizational review by the Edmonton-based H.R. Group, three senior staff were terminated. Second story down. (Cold Lake Sun)
Off To Africa
HINTON -- With the help of FCM, Hinton manager of finance Corinne Newman is heading to Africa to take part in a workshop to improve municipal governments in Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique. (Hinton Parklander)
Piggeries Prompt Protests
FAIRVIEW -- Nineteen residents of the Highland Park area demanded action from the Municipal District of Fairview councillors to help them stop the development of two new hog barns planned for the area. (Fairview Post)
Tax Hike Eyed
WHITECOURT -- Woodlands County is looking to raise taxes to provide homeowners with improved services to infrastructure. (Mayerthorpe Freelancer)
Municipal Saskatchewan
Crowded Field
MELFORT -- Voters will be confronted with a ballot as long as their arm when they head to the polls Oct. 22. (Melfort Journal)
Lots Of Races
NIPAWIN -- An unprecedented number of northeast communities will be holding elections this time around. (Nipawin Journal)
. . . But Some Go Begging
WEYBURN -- Some towns and villages in southeastern Saskatchewan will hold elections along with the cities on Oct. 22, while others must ask a second time for nominations. (Weyburn Review)
Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign
PRINCE ALBERT -- Campaign posters are popping up all over the city and the fact is that there are few places that candidates can't put up their likeness. (Prince Albert Times-Herald)
Acclamations Kill Contest
WHITEWOOD -- Civic elections will be taking place across the province on October 22 but there will be no need for voters to head to the polls in Whitewood. (Whitewood Herald)
Municipal Manitoba
If It Works In Europe . . .
WINNIPEG -- An economist working with Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray on his "New Deal" proposal says cutting property taxes in favour of adding new fees and taxes on other services has worked well in Europe. (CBC Manitoba)
Urban Reserves Hyped
LETELLIER -- The chief of the Roseau River First Nation says an urban reserve in Winnipeg would benefit everyone. (CBC Manitoba)
Livestock Ops On Hold
ST. PIERRE-JOLYS -- The RM of De Salaberry has once again put a halt to livestock operations until a committee appointed to review the livestock bylaws in the municipality has completed its task. (Dawson Trail Dispatch)
Road To Ruin
WINNIPEG BEACH -- Town council will withhold payment for road construction until deficiencies in the work are addressed, Mayor Don Pepe said last week. (Interlake Spectator)
Managers Moving On
MORDEN -- One familiar face is gone from the town administration, and another one is leaving by year's end. (Morden Times)
Call For More Cops
LANGRUTH -- Rural Municipality of Lakeview council is calling on the RCMP to increase patrols in the Langruth area following a rash of residential break-ins during the summer. (Daily Graphic)
Hog Op Opponents Dominate Open House
VASSAR -- An informal open house for the proposed RM of Piney development plan Monday afternoon turned into a debate over large-scale hog farming in the municipality. Eighth story down. (The Carillon)
Province Provides Plan
WINNIPEG -- A new waste water treatment plan for the City of Winnipeg will improve water quality in the Red River and Lake Winnipeg, Conservation Minister Steve Ashton said. (Government of Manitoba Press Release)
Municipal North
Booze Plebiscites A Go
IQALUIT, NU -- Residents of four communities in Nunavut will go to the polls in November to set the rules governing alcohol in their communities. (CBC North)
Development Voted Down
IQALUIT, NU -- Mayor John Matthews, who faces re-election in three weeks, cast the deciding vote this week against developing the Tundra East area of Iqaluit, disregarding a unanimous recommendation from the city's own planning committee. (Nunatsiaq News)
Elections, Acclamations
WHITEHORSE -- As 21 candidates compete for a seat on council in the territory's capital, other communities are also gearing up for the Oct. 16 election. (Whitehorse Star Daily)
Municipal Ontario
Ex-CAO Sues
THUNDER BAY -- It will be at least a month before a Superior Court judge decides whether former Thunder Bay city manager Brian MacRae's $9-million lawsuit should be tossed out. (Chronicle-Journal)
Regional Ballots Ready
KENORA -- Interest in the Nov. 10 municipal election in the Kenora and Rainy River districts is high if willingness to serve politically is any indication. (Miner and News)
Fiscal Woes Continue
FORT FRANCES -- After agreeing to transfer $1.81M from reserve funds to finance the 2002 deficit, town council looks to be on the road to more financial woes this year with a possible deficit of almost $1.3M. (Fort Frances Times Online)
Smoke Ban Blows Into Court
SUDBURY -- A longtime Sudbury businessman was scheduled to be in court to take a stand against the city's new smoking bylaw. (Sudbury Star)
Smoke Eaters Score High
PARRY SOUND -- Seguin Fire Services successfully completed a Fire Underwriters' Survey, a comprehensive review of a fire department's structure, including operations, policies, personnel, equipment, training and fire hall locations. (Parry Sound North Star)
First Mayor Acclaimed
NEW LISKEARD -- New Liskeard Mayor Jamie Hawken has been acclaimed as the first mayor of the new municipality of the City of Temiskaming Shores. (Temiskaming Speaker)
No Help From Feds
MIDLAND -- The Town of Midland paid out another $15,810 in August for archeological research at the Huron Wendat Ossuary, bringing their total to about $175G - but the federal government continues to balk at contributing financially. (Midland Free Press)
'Complex' Math
ORILLIA -- Orillia council is giving the proposed sports complex sober second thought after its estimated costs mushroomed to $47 million from last year's $18.7-million estimate. (Orillia Packet & Times)
Towns Bail From Shared Services
NEWMARKET -- York Region plans to move ahead with a central fire dispatch system despite the fact that Richmond Hill and Markham have opted out. (Yorkregion.com)
No Fare
AJAX -- Six of 30 taxis inspected during a safety blitz in Ajax were taken off the road. (durhamregion.com)
Traffic Calming Costly
UXBRIDGE -- Slowing speeders isn't easy, Uxbridge's public works committee members have been advised. (durhamregion.com)
Hopefuls Line Up
BRIGHTON -- A total of twenty council hopefuls remained on the lists of certified candidates in Brighton and Cramahe, creating what could be the most interesting races in East Northumberland this November. (Online Independent)
Wage Hike Gets Nod
BELLEVILLE -- City council approved a proposed agreement with its non-unionized staff giving each employee a retroactive pay increase of 3.25%.
Bad Faith Alleged
KINGSTON -- The City of Kingston acted in bad faith when it attached onerous conditions to a development project at the last minute and caused the deal to collapse, a Kingston businessman testified in court. (Kingston Whig-Standard)
Political Longevity
WILLIAMSBURG -- South Dundas Reeve Johnny Whitteker has his eye on the half-century club as a municipal politician. (Brockville Recorder & Times Online)
Pipeline Fight Intensifies
OTTAWA -- Already ensnared in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit over a proposed sewage pipeline from Munster Hamlet to Richmond, the City of Ottawa now faces growing opposition from the community. (Ottawa Citizen)
Vision Document Endorsed
HAMILTON-- Hamilton councillors have a vision for the city's future. (haltonsearch.com)
Council Hikes Own Pay
KENILWORTH -- Council members in Wellington North will be getting a raise at the beginning of December. (Arthur Enterprise News)
Boarders Jump Hurdle
CHATHAM -- Local skateboard enthusiasts received permission to go ahead with the construction of skateboard facilities in Chatham and Wallaceburg. (Chatham This Week)
Building Stats Hammered
SARNIA -- In the 10 Lambton County municipalities outside of Sarnia, the value of building permits is down close to $15 million this year. (Sarnia Observer)
Municipal Atlantic
Waterfront Plan Unveiled
GEORGETOWN, PE -- It's got a million-dollar view and it will likely cost that much when it's completed, but Mayor Mike Gallant says the time has come for the Kings County capital to celebrate its waterfront profile. (The Guardian)
Muni Elections Imminent
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- Municipal elections will be held across the Island on Monday, Nov. 3, resulting in new councils being elected in approximately 75 separate municipalities. (Government of Prince Edward Island Press Release)
Civic Centre Opens
SACKVILLE, NB -- The Tantramar Regional Civic Centre officially opened in front of a large crowd of local residents and invited guests. (CNB)
Stink Suffocates Town
WOODSTOCK, NB -- Woodstock residents are burning scented candles and keeping their windows firmly shut to cover the rank stench coming from the town's outdated sewage system. (CBC - New Brunswick)
Plea For Patience
HALIFAX -- "We're still in a state of emergency," George McLellan, Halifax Regional Municipality's chief administrative officer, reminded those gathered at a news conference. (Halifax Herald)
Boost For Biz
ST. JOHN'S, NF -- A report published by Canadian Business Magazine ranks St. John's as one of the best places to do business in Canada. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Press Release)
Water Levels Dangerously Low
BAY ROBERTS, NF -- The town of Bay Roberts is looking for help from up above. (The Compass)
This email was not sent without asking your prior permission. Please follow this link to subscribe or unsubscribe. All subscriptions are free.
The MuniMall
Newsletter is published via email most Thursdays by
Government Studies at the University of Alberta.
Comments, concerns, suggestions, submissions? Email MuniMall Editor John Sinclair at
john.sinclair@ualberta.ca or call John at 780-492-2783.
MuniMall respects your privacy. We use redirects and pixels in the Newsletter to better understand the likes and dislikes of our readers and to create a better product in the future. For more information, please see our Privacy Statement.
Copyright © 2003 University of Alberta
