Municipal Alberta
Grant Fuels Fire Protection
STRATHMORE -- Wheatland County obtained $125,000 from the 2003 Municipal Sponsorship Grant, and will use the funds to implement the its Fire Protection Master Plan. (Strathmore Standard)
Memorial Idea Grows On Council
VAUXHALL -- Community members may soon have another option for paying tribute to their loved ones buried in the Vauxhall cemetery, as town council is looking into letting people grow trees in memory of someone they've lost. (Vauxhall Advance)
The Price Of Learning
BANFF -- Banff's average residential property owner faces a $150 annual increase in education property taxes if the province follows advice from the Alberta Learning Commission. (Banff Crag & Canyon)
Skate Park By Another Name
COCHRANE-- "This is not a skateboard park, this is a youth park," said Bylaw Enforcement Officer Budd about one of Cochrane's most anticipated and long-awaited arrivals. (Cochrane Times)
Water Rate Changes On Tap
CALGARY -- The city's water and waste department wants to start charging rates based on how large the building is. (CBC Calgary)
Butt Bylaw Eyes Total Ban
DRAYTON VALLEY -- The smoking bylaw is back, and this time it could include a total ban on smoking in restaurants and bars. (Drayton Valley Western Review)
New Chief Fired Up
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE -- The new Regional Fire Chief says the people and equipment she's going to work with in this area look top-notch. (Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer)
Ward System Plebiscite
DRUMHELLER -- A vote will be held among all eligible voters in Drumheller to decide if the existing ward system should be changed so that all councillors are elected as the mayor is, by everyone in the town. (Drumheller Mail)
County Enters Name Game
LACOMBE -- Lacombe County is considering attaching names to more of its roads, and it'll soon be taking suggestions from the public to do it. (Lacombe Globe)
Joint Services Surgically Separated
LEDUC -- After lengthy discussions between the City of Leduc and Leduc County concerning emergency medical services both municipalities have decided to go their separate ways for ambulance service. (Leduc Representative)
City Scores Special Grant
CAMROSE -- Council received notification that it has been awarded $2.9M for the Highway 13 east road construction project through the City Special Transportation grant initiative. (Camrose Canadian)
County Won't Scrap IDP
MORINVILLE -- County council emerged from a closed-door meeting Tuesday deciding not to scrap its Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) agreement with St. Albert. (stalbertgazette.com)
Mayor Ready To Rumble
ST. ALBERT -- Sturgeon County will have a massive fight on its hands if it approves a proposed subdivision the size of Spruce Grove on St. Albert's northern boundary, says Mayor Richard Plain. (stalbertgazette.com)
Economic Disaster Declared
VEGREVILLE -- Council declared the County of Minburn No. 27 an Agricultural Economic Disaster area due to the BSE crisis, drought, low ag commodity prices, and extreme crop damage from insect infestations. (County of Minburn press release hosted on MuniMall)
Regional ED In Doubt
BONNYVILLE -- The absence of any representatives from the town of Bonnyville at a recent series of community economic development courses has some members of Bonnyville MD council concerned about the creation of a regional economic development organization. (Bonnyville Nouvelle)
Manager Honoured
VERMILION -- Town of Vermilion manager Bob Watt is the first ever recipient of the Dedicated Chief Administrative Officer award which was presented at the recent AUMA convention. (Vermilion Standard)
Contract Renewed, Reluctantly
FAIRVIEW -- The Town of Fairview councillors reluctantly voted to renew their contract with the Mackenzie Municipal Services Agency (MMSA) for one year. (Fairview Post)
Municipal Saskatchewan
Reserves Running Down
REGINA -- The next city council will likely have less spending flexibility because of the city's investment in two major projects. (Regina - canada.com network)
3% Raise -- For Most
LLOYDMINSTER -- The city has agreed to a general wage increase of 3% for unionized employees, with one notable exception. (Meridian Booster)
Goodsoil Gets Good Water
GOODSOIL -- People in Goodsoil have safer drinking water thanks to an upgraded water treatment plant supported by the Canada-Saskatchewan Infrastructure Program. (Western Economic Diversification Canada)
Candidates Keen On Curfew
SASKATOON -- A youth curfew may help Saskatoon's fight against crime, say some political hopefuls. (StarPhoenix)
Reserves Routed To RCMP
MELFORT -- The City of Melfort has allotted the biggest chunk of its 2002 budget surplus to fund a forthcoming province-wide upgrade of the RCMP communication system. (Melfort Journal)
Municipal Manitoba
Education Sparks Fire Sense
DAUPHIN -- Effective firefighting starts with public education, which is why the Dauphin Fire Department takes advantage of the international attention Fire Prevention Week presents. (Dauphin Herald)
New Facility Feted
GILBERT PLAINS -- Oct. 4, 2003 marked the culmination of a project that started over 2 years ago as a large crowd gathered for the grand opening of the new Emergency Services Building in Gilbert Plains. (Grandview Exponent)
Flat Fee Flashpoint
DUNNOTTAR -- About 20 Village of Dunnottar residents have revived a taxpayers' association to fight the village's proposed sewage collection fee and then go on to other causes. (Interlake Spectator)
Annexation A Done Deal?
MORDEN -- Consultants made the case for the annexation of RM of Stanley land into the Town of Morden last week, but they were pretty much preaching to the converted. (Morden Times)
'New Deal' From A To Z
WINNIPEG -- Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray has proposed a "new deal" for the city that could cut property taxes in half and eliminate the business and amusement taxes -- and introduce new taxes and user fees. (CBC Manitoba) See related story in Getting Wired section.
Municipal North
Taxation Schemes And Dreams
IQALUIT, NU-- Iqaluit voters have a clear choice of who they want for mayor when it comes to tax reform. (Nunatsiaq News)
Mayoral Hopefuls Unmasked
WHITEHORSE, YK -- Beginning here and in alphabetical order, Star Daily reporter Stephanie Waddell profiles the five mayoral candidates for this month's municipal election. (Whitehorse Star Daily)
Surplus Projected
DAWSON CITY, YK -- Whatever new slate of councillors is elected to serve Dawson City today, the outgoing council is sure there will be more than enough money to meet the budget commitments it has made. (Whitehorse Star Daily)
Wading Cautiously Into Pool
HAY RIVER, NT -- Hay River town council can't wait to take a dip in a new city swimming pool, but they don't want to drown in the same red ink that swamped Yellowknife's multiplex. (CBC North)
Municipal Ontario
Butt Stops Here
PLYMPTON-WYOMING -- The Town of Plympton-Wyoming wants county council to drop all plans to ban smoking and let the province create Ontario-wide legislation. (Sarnia Observer)
Candidate Faces Drug Rap
ELORA -- One of the five men in the mayoral race in Centre Wellington stood trial for drug offences earlier this month. (Fergus-Elora News Express)
Smaller Lots Scrutinized
KENILWORTH -- Wellington North Council has taken a step to smaller lots for new development within its borders. (Mt. Forest Confederate)
Paramedics Losing Patience
WYOMING -- Lambton County paramedics could be in a legal strike position within the next two months. (Petrolia Topic)
Good Fences Build Pricey Trails
WALKERTON -- Bruce County Council is apprehensive about the estimated $1.5 million cost of fencing an 80 km stretch of former CN land to be used as a recreational trail. (Shoreline Beacon)
Two High Level Hires
ST. MARYS -- Two top St. Marys administrators are breathing a little easier with the hiring of much-needed help in the town's building inspection and operations divisions. (St. Marys Journal Argus)
Port Against Porn
PORT COLBORNE -- The city of Port Colborne is again joining a national week-long initiative to raise awareness of the destructive influence of pornography. (Welland Tribune)
Dialing 311
OAKVILLE -- Halton Regional Council has approved a recommendation for the Region to participate in a joint application to the CRTC to designate the use of the 311 telephone number for non-emergency municipal services. (haltonsearch.com)
Muni Elections Tough Sell
RICHMOND HILL -- There's an urban legend about a man showing up at the polls at a municipal election in a small Ontario town demanding to know why he couldn't cast his vote for Royal LePage. (Yorkregion.com)
Management Crisis
VAUGHAN -- While Vaughan Mayor Michael Di Biase contends there is nothing out of the ordinary about the recent loss of several senior city managers, critics are pointing to a management crisis at city hall. (Yorkregion.com)
Shut Up And Drive
OSHAWA -- City bus drivers have been told to keep quiet and steer clear of the Nov. 10 municipal election. (durhamregion.com)
$1M Suit A Tender Point
SCUGOG - A construction consortium has launched legal action against Township of Scugog officials seeking nearly $1 million in damages after having lost a contract through what it calls a faulty tender process. (durhamregion.com)
Survey Grades Services
KINGSTON -- Snowplowing is one of the most important, yet poorest quality services Kingston delivers, citizens say. (Kingston Whig-Standard)
The Vote Is In The Mail
ADDISON -- For the second straight election, voters in Elizabethtown-Kitley township can mark their ballots from the comfort of their homes. (Brockville Recorder & Times)
Mud Flies At Mayoral Debate
RAMARA -- The political mud was flying at a Ramara Township all-candidates meeting Tuesday night as mayoral candidate Bill Duffy tried to make it stick to mayoral incumbent Tom Garry. (Orillia Packet & Times)
Families Fight Bylaw
HUNTSVILLE -- Several families with loved ones interred at the Stephenson Cemetery contend they have a right to mourn however they wish, and are refusing to comply with a new graveside bylaw. (Huntsville Forester)
Strategic Plan Unveiled
DRYDEN -- "Dryden will be a municipal leader with a commitment to excellence. We will challenge the future by creating opportunities for growth and prosperity, and foster positive attitudes." (Dryden Observer)
Airport Marketing Takes Off
SIOUX LOOKOUT -- Sioux Lookout has joined with Dryden and Red Lake to http://www.fftimes.com/index.php/1/2003-10-16/15614
Deficit Less Drastic Than Feared
FORT FRANCES -- Town management and administration have been able to reduce a shortfall in the 2003 budget from almost $1.5 million to about $515,000 after tracking down accounting errors left by former municipal staff. (Fort Frances Times)
Municipal Atlantic
Council "Secrecy, Arrogance" Attacked
SUMMERSIDE, PE -- Mayoral candidate Elmer Williams said he has detected a growing dissatisfaction about the way the community is run. (Journal Pioneer)
Election Promises Make Council Agenda
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- A Charlottetown city councillor mixed city business with electioneering during the last meeting of the current council. (CBC - Prince Edward Island)
Females A Growing Muni Force
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- Island women's groups are throwing their support behind female candidates in the upcoming municipal elections. (CBC - Prince Edward Island)
History Faces Wrecking Ball
SAINT JOHN, NB -- The City of Saint John is struggling to keep its budget in line and to hold the tax rate, but that's raising concern that some historic city-owned buildings will have to be sold or demolished. (CBC - New Brunswick)
$1.3M Water, Sewer Grant
OROMOCTO, NB -- The governments of Canada and New Brunswick announced $1.3M in infrastructure funding for Oromocto's municipal water and sewer system. (CNB)
Plebiscite Peeves UNSM
HALIFAX, NS -- Cities and towns around Nova Scotia don't want voters thinking about Sunday shopping when they cast their ballots in municipal elections next year. (CBC - Nova Scotia)
Campaign Signs Coming Down
CORNER BROOK, NF -- The City of Corner Brook is laying down the law for provincial election campaigners who put signs on city property, confiscating about a dozen campaign signs so far. (CBC - Newfoundland & Labrador)
Getting Wired
Fast, Fast, Fast Internet Relief
RANKIN INLET, NU -- There's relief in sight for northern Internet users tired of wasting hours of precious time watching Web pages and large attachments crawl into their computers over sluggish dial-up telephone lines. (Nunatsiaq News)
Internet Pharmacy Brings New Jobs, Taxes
NIVERVILLE, MB -- Canada's largest Internet pharmacy, is opening its new distribution plant in Niverville early next month, because the town was prepared "to work outside the box to attract new business," says Mayor Gordon Daman. Tenth story down. (The Carillon)
Downloadable 'New Deal' Calculator
WINNIPEG, MB -- The City of Winnipeg has created a calculator that allows individual Winnipeggers to determine how the proposed "New Deal" tax reform system will affect them personally. (CBC Manitoba)
Internet Voting A Go
MARKHAM, ON -- Despite a recent report in the United States that calls new voting technology into question, Markham officials say all systems are go for online voting in the upcoming municipal election. (Yorkregion.com)
Politics and Policy
Fuel Tax Complications
REGINA, SK -- Finance Minister John Manley said he supports his predecessor Paul Martin's concept of giving municipalities a share of the federal fuel tax, but says the provinces have to agree to it first. (Saskatoon - canada.com network)
Trust Alone Won't Do It
TORONTO, ON -- Ontario needs a tough new provincial law to ensure transparency and accountability in municipal governments, says the province's Information and Privacy Commissioner. (New Tecumseth Free Press)
Urban Tax Benefit Promised
SASKATOON, SK -- City dwellers will be able to write off their education taxes if Saskatchewan party leader Elwin Hermanson has his way. (CBC Saskatchewan)
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