Municipal Alberta
Groundbreaking Agreement Signed
BOW ISLAND -- The town of Bow Island signed a "template agreement" with ATCO Gas and the AUMA. (40 Mile County Commentator)
Defection Dissed
HIGH RIVER -- Foothills MD Councillor Terry Waddock said Okotoks' plan to withdraw from the Foothills Regional Emergency Medical Services (FREMS) is severely flawed. (Western Wheel)
Foreman Moves On
TABER -- He's been the man behind the action in Taber, but he's taking on a new position in Fort Vermilion starting Dec.15. Third story down. (Taber Times)
Low Flow The Way To Go
AIRDRIE -- Airdrie city council voted unanimously in favour of requiring all future residential, commercial and industrial development to install low-flow plumbing fixtures -- all in an effort to prevent precious water and money from going down the drain. (Airdrie Echo)
Report Recommends Fewer Bosses
BANFF -- Banff's residents, businesses and visitors would be better served by an organization with fewer senior bureaucrats and more frontline staff, says a long-awaited consulting report. (Banff Crag & Canyon)
New Purchasing Policy
COCHRANE -- After repeated presentations and urgings to council, the Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce have what they were looking for -- a new purchasing policy for the Town of Cochrane. (Cochrane Times)
Socking Away Surplus
CALGARY -- City hall expects a budget surplus of close to $16 million for 2003 -- an amount nearly equal to last year's tax hike -- and most of it will end up in a rainy-day fund as opposed to tax relief. (Calgary - canada.com network)
Land-Use Study Begins
LACOMBE -- In response to the growing number of groups requesting permission to develop land between Lacombe and Blackfalds, Lacombe County will soon begin a new study that will lay out a standard for land-use in the area. (Lacombe Globe)
County Reducing Wards
STETTLER -- County of Stettler council may have two less members after the elections in October 2004. (Stettler Independent)
Rec Plan Released
SUNDRE -- Following months of public information gathering and study, a town committee has presented the final draft of a plan outlining future recreational and space requirements in Sundre. (Sundre Round Up)
Growth Study Unveiled
CAMROSE -- The city needs room to expand. (Camrose Canadian)
Budget Increase Cut To Zero
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- Still further cuts to the 2004 City of Fort Saskatchewan budget have brought the total increase to almost nothing, not counting the Dow Centennial Centre levy. (Sturgeon Creek Post)
Tax Hike Approved
MORINVILLE -- Revenue from increased taxes in Sturgeon County will go towards repairing local bridges, hiring an emergency services officer to train volunteer firefighters and pay raises for county councillors and staff. (stalbertgazette.com)
Budget, Biz Plan Passed
SHERWOOD PARK -- Strathcona County Council Tuesday approved its municipal budget for 2004 along with the Business Plan for 2004-2006. (County Of Strathcona News Release)
Taxes, Fees Headed Up
HINTON -- Hinton's Town council presented its proposed operating and capital budgets for 2004. (Hinton Parklander)
Withdrawal Forces Staff Cuts
FAIRVIEW -- The Mackenzie Municipal Services Agency (MMSA) was dealt a heavy blow recently when the MD of Mackenzie, the largest municipality which is a member of the agency, announced it would withdraw from MMSA at the end of 2003. (Fairview Post)
Annexation Talks Open
PEACE RIVER -- The Town of Peace River is in talks with one municipality and is scheduling discussions with another over plans to annex land on the West Hill. (Peace River Record Gazette)
Regional Partnerships Restricted
FALHER -- Town of Falher council has withdrawn from the Peace Region Regional Partnership under Peace Region Economic Development Alliance. (Smoky River Express)
Municipal Saskatchewan
Building Bridges With Gas Tax
SASKATOON -- Saskatoon will get two new bridges across the South Saskatchewan River if Mayor Don Atchison gets his way and he is pinning his hopes on a proposed federal gasoline tax. (CBC Saskatchewan)
Stumping Reforms Shelved
REGINA -- City council has killed the idea of putting spending limits on candidates in municipal elections and forcing them to reveal how much they spent and who made contributions to their campaign. (Regina - canada.com network)
High-Tech Meters On Tap
WHITEWOOD -- The long, tedious task of checking water meters will soon go by the wayside as town council has decided to get a little more high tech with the town water meters. (Whitewood Herald)
Recruitment Drive On
MELFORT -- There are holes to be filled almost everywhere when it comes to the City of Melfort list of committee and board appointments. (Melfort Journal)
Indoor Pool Comes Up Dry
NIPAWIN -- Proponents of an indoor pool for Nipawin received a rather emphatic "no" from council Monday regarding the project. (Nipawin Journal)
Municipal Manitoba
Water Tower Woes
BEAUSEJOUR -- Town of Beausejour council members were taken aback when they learned they might have to pour more money into the water tower. (Beausejour Review)
"Newer Deal" In New Year
WINNIPEG -- The city of Winnipeg has provided a breakdown of how it has spent the budget to promote its "New Deal" for municipal tax reform. (CBC Manitoba)
Emergency Planning Shared
CARMAN -- The first steps in developing a joint emergency plan for the Town of Carman and RM of Dufferin are under way. (Carman Valley Leader)
Arena Replacement Requires Fancy Skating
DAUPHIN -- There have been a lot of questions circulating about just where the city is at in terms of getting the arena replacement project under way. (Dauphin Herald)
Holdout Joining 911
LUNDAR -- The lone Interlake municipality not committed to the 911 emergency dispatch system is planning to jump on board early next year. (Interlake Spectator)
Pet Deadline Clawed Back
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE -- Councillors unanimously agreed to waive licensing fees for dogs and cats for a three-month period prior to imposing a stiff penalty against those who thumb their noses at animal licences. (Daily Graphic)
Homeowner Help Eyed
BRANDON -- Brandon could provide first time homeowners with help in obtaining a down payment through 4 year interest free loans. (MyWinnipeg.com)
Municipal North
Recount Ordered
FORT MCPHERSON, NT -- Residents of Fort McPherson will have to wait to see who will be their community's mayor. (CBC North)
Butt Bylaws Challenged
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- Yellowknife bars will stay smoke free despite a strong lobby for postponement, while in Inuvik, some drinking establishments are openly defiant of the town's bylaw. (CBC North)
$5.5M To Replace "White Elephant"
IQALUIT, NU -- Less than two years from now, Iqaluit could have a new multi-million-dollar sewage treatment plant, if the city's engineer gets his way. (Nunatsiaq News)
New Mayors, Councils
IQALUIT, NU -- There is new leadership in the scattered communities of Nunavut, as voters across the territory went to the polls. (CBC North)
Breaking The Rules?
DAWSON CITY, YK -- The Yukon government-appointed supervisor of Dawson City believes the town's council has broken the rules by suing the government without his permission. (Whitehorse Star)
"Responsible" Tax Hikes
WHITEHORSE, YK -- Taxpayers in Whitehorse are likely looking at several years of tax and service charge increases from their city government.
Municipal Ontario
Paramedics Injected With 23% Increase
WYOMING -- After a full day of mediation, Lambton County and its paramedical union in Lambton County have ratified a tentative agreement. (Lakeshore Advance)
Staff Won't Back Severances
LEAMINGTON -- If appeals on 3 property severances ever reach an OMB hearing, municipal staff will not be supporting the decisions of Leamington's Committee of Adjustment. (Leamington Post)
No Way Out
WINGHAM -- North Huron Council has decided member municipalities will not be allowed to withdraw from the Blyth District Fire Area Board prior to the expiry date of the agreement. (Wingham Advance-Times)
Tax Pooling Must End: Chair
OAKVILLE -- Three-time Halton Chair Joyce Savoline says the region's quality of life risks being hampered by a system that pools taxpayers' dollars to help pay for social services in Toronto, and it must be re-tooled. (haltonsearch.com)
Tapped Out?
HAMILTON -- Residents may have to cut their baths to once a month if Hamilton councillors pass a proposed 9.5 per cent water and sewer rate hike in next year's $124-million budget. (haltonsearch.com)
Sewer Agreement On Again
KING CITY -- Eight years after it first agreed to connect King City to the York Durham Sewer System, King Township council has once again agreed to connect King City to the York Durham Sewer System. (Yorkregion.com)
High-Density Housing Pushed
NEWMARKET -- York Region is going to have to start growing up instead of out. (Yorkregion.com)
Huge Insurance Hike
CLARINGTON -- The Municipality says it was prepared for the whopping 23 per cent insurance premium increase in 2003. (durhamregion.com)
Recounts Don't Change Result
BELLEVILLE -- After three days and 20 hours, city officials wrapped up a painstaking manual recount of election ballots. (Belleville Intelligencer)
Accessibility Recommendations Unveiled
BROCKVILLE -- Teletype machines for some city phones, a ban on sidewalk patios and sensitivity training for city staff are among the many recommendations of a special committee formed to make Brockville more accessible to people with disabilities. (Brockville Recorder & Times)
Township Drinks Up Funding
WINCHESTER -- Santa came to North Dundas Monday, his toy sack filled instead with more than $726,000 on behalf of senior government. (Cornwall Standard Freeholder)
Heat Is On For Smoke Bill
BERWICK -- The Township of South Stormont wants to light a fire under the province to speed up the process of creating a province-wide no-smoking ban in all public places and workplaces. (Cornwall Standard Freeholder)
$80M In Cuts Eyed
OTTAWA -- City council wants to cut $80 million in programs and services before it will contemplate a tax increase to help the municipality overcome its massive budget shortfall. (Ottawa Citizen - canada.com network)
Shared Police, Ambulance Studied
HAWKESBURY -- The Ontario Provincial Police and the Prescott-Russell emergency services department may end up sharing a new home in Hawkesbury's industrial park. (Vankleek Hill Review)
Name Game Wipes Out Aldermen
BARRIE -- Less than a month after Barrie voters elected 10 city aldermen, there are soon to be none at City Hall. (Barrie Examiner)
Pricey Renos
OWEN SOUND -- Grey County council approved $1.997 million in renovations to the county administration building Wednesday even though the project is $500,000 over budget estimates. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
Reeve's Salary Doubles
HALIBURTON -- Remuneration for the reeve of Dysart et al will likely double for this term the new council has decided. (Haliburton County Echo)
Plant, Pipeline Grants Pour In
KAGAWONG - Residents of the Municipality of Billings will benefit from cleaner, safer drinking water through an investment under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program. (Industry Canada Press Release)
'Culture Of Fear' Decried
SUDBURY -- The culture of fear at city hall needs to change so the city can be more open to business, says Greater Sudbury's new mayor. (Sudbury Star)
7% Shocker Predicted
TIMMINS -- A veteran member of city council believes city taxpayers could be in for a property tax jolt come 2004. (Timmins Daily Press)
New Municipality "Goes Live"
NEW LISKEARD -- Temiskaming Shores will be officially open for business on January 5. (Temiskaming Speaker)
Municipal Atlantic
Electoral Wrongdoing Investigated
MONTAGUE, PE -- The RCMP began interviewing witnesses regarding allegations of election wrongdoing, but outgoing Mayor Pat McGowan contends a new municipal election should be held just to remove the shroud of suspicion. (Guardian)
Bylaw Protects Retail Workers
FREDERICTON, NB -- Fredericton city council pushed a bylaw to prevent stores from opening on Christmas, Boxing Day and nine other holidays throughout the year. (City of Fredericton Press Release hosted on MuniMall)
Where Were The Plows?
MONCTON, NB -- The only sounds loud enough to drown out the screaming of spinning car tires on Metro Moncton streets were the howls of outrage coming from citizens angry over snow-plowing shortcomings. (canadaeast.com)
Parking Ban, Cleanup A Success
SAINT JOHN, NB -- If looks and plowed streets are a gauge of success, then Saint John's city centre parking ban gamble has paid off. (canadaeast.com)
$1.8M Water Upgrade
DORCHESTER, NB -- A joint federal, provincial and municipal infrastructure investment of $1,830,582 will improve the water system in the Village of Dorchester. (CNB)
3 Projects Get $3.1M
HALIFAX, NS -- Three new projects funded through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program and worth $5.4 million, promise to deliver a big impact on the lives of Colchester residents. (Government of Nova Scotia Press Release)
Blue Bag Bandits Beware!
HALIFAX, NS -- Halifax municipal officials plan to enforce a bylaw prohibiting scavengers from going through other people's blue bags. (CBC - Nova Scotia)
Water, Sewer Grants Flow
STELLARTON, NS -- A waterline replacement project in Stellarton and a sewer upgrade in Riverton, worth a combined total of $683,140, have been approved through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program. (Government of Nova Scotia Press Release)
Stadium Strikes Out
BADGER, NF -- The town council in Badger doesn't have enough money to fix all its buildings that were damaged in February's flood. (CBC - Newfoundland & Labrador)
Poll Tax Protest
GANDER, NF -- The town of Gander's poll tax, often criticized as unfair and discriminatory, is now the subject of a petition and protest. (The Beacon)
Getting Wired
$400G Broadband Grant
MIDDLETON -- The Honourable Robert G. Thibault today announced a $400,000 investment from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)'s Strategic Community Investment Fund to extend fibre-optic broadband service from Middleton to Meteghan. (ACOA Website)
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