Municipal Alberta
Accusations Fly After Strike Vote
WAINWRIGHT -- A union leader says ambulance workers in the Town of Wainwright are the lowest paid in Alberta, and that the town violates employment standards by not paying for overtime, on-call, and working on statutory holidays. (630CHED.com News)
Punted Petition Probed In Court
RED DEER -- A Red Deer lawyer argued in Court of Queen's Bench that county manager Rob Coon was wrong in declaring a 2,225-signature petition invalid. (Red Deer Advocate)
Hamlets Seek Highway Hype
VULCAN -- Vulcan County council received correspondence from Alberta Transportation regarding highway signs for hamlets. (Vulcan Advocate)
Stand Up And Be Counted
HIGH RIVER -- The Town of High River has a team of census volunteers going door to door gathering important information to plan for future development in the town. (High River Times)
Thou Shalt Not Trespass
VULCAN -- Trespassers will not be forgiven this year in the Town of Vulcan. (Vulcan Advocate)
New Budget Good News
FORT MACLEOD -- The Town of Fort Macleod will spend $465,485 less in the new budget than it did in 2003-'04, bringing some welcome relief to property owners. Second story down. (Ft. Macleod Gazette)
Small Communities Conference
TURNER VALLEY -- Over 100 representatives from Alberta's small communities will convene in the towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley for the Small Communities Large Potential conference. (Western Wheel News)
Energy Award
BANFF -- Banff's efforts to become a sustainable community have been recognized. (Banff Crag & Canyon)
Council Says Yea To More Pay
COCHRANE -- The message was clear both from the mayor and council remuneration committee and from town council itself -- Cochrane elected officials deserve a raise. (Cochrane Times)
Clerk Scores Honour
CALGARY -- Diane Garner, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Calgary, has been accepted as a member in the Master Municipal Clerk Academy Program of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC). (IIMC Press Release hosted on MuniMall)
Area Structure Plan Approved
OLDS -- Olds' town council gave third and final reading to a proposed industrial/commercial site that will feature a travel hub, light industry and 13.6 acres in reserve. (Olds Albertan)
Smoking Up To Voters
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE --Town council voted unanimously this week to hold a plebiscite about a smoking bylaw during the municipal election on Oct. 18. (Red Deer Advocate)
Complex Rezoning Finally Finished
LACOMBE -- Lacombe County gave its OK to a proposed 53-lot development on Buffalo Lake northwest of Stettler, the last municipality of 5 to do so under an intermunicipal development plan. (Red Deer Advocate)
Regional Partnership Retains Member
PONOKA -- The Town of Ponoka will continue its membership in Central Alberta Economic Partnership, a regional economic group involving 38 communities. (Ponoka News)
. . . And Scores Grant
RED DEER -- The Central Alberta Economic Partnership received $60G in funding from the Government of Alberta to help the alliance implement its business plan. (Government of Alberta Press Release)
Road Scandal Still Raging
DRAYTON VALLEY -- The roads at the centre of an allaged conflict of interest controversy in Brazeau County may not be paved after all due to three new directives set down by Alberta Municipal Affairs. (Drayton Valley Western Review)
Cuff Report Now Online
DRAYTON VALLEY -- Read all the details of the Brazeau County paving scandal in the Cuff Report, now online on the Brazeau County website. Part 2 here. Large PDF files may take a few minutes to download. (Brazeau County)
Extra Spending Creates Shortfall
LACOMBE -- The Town of Lacombe came up just shy of its operating budget for 2003, but it spent about $600G more than expected on the capital side of things. (Lacombe Globe)
Dead In The Water
WETASKIWIN -- "The original project, for all intents and purposes, is dead," said Southside Pigeon Lake Sewer Project manager Brian Austrom to County of Wetaskiwin council. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser)
Bullying Bylaw
CAMROSE -- A new City bylaw gives police more authority in dealing with minors harassing other people. (Camrose Canadian)
Quality Of Life Under Siege
EDMONTON -- Edmonton's per-capita spending on programs and services has declined by almost five per cent since 1990, a trend among Canadian cities that could threaten the quality of life, a new report says. (Edmonton Journal - canada.com network)
Compelling Presentation June 15
EDMONTON -- Edmonton area readers are invited to a free presentation Tuesday, June 15 at 3:30 p.m. in the UofA's fabulous Telus Centre. Dr. Igor Vojnovic of Michigan State University will speak on "Laissez-faire governance and the archetype laissez-faire city: exploring Houston." Hear a fascinating account of the complexity underlying Houston's minimalist intervention rhetoric. (MuniMall Press Release)
Internship Program Runs Again
EDMONTON -- Municipalities interested in building the future strength of Alberta municipal administration once again have the opportunity to participate in the Municipal Internship Program. (Alberta Municipal Affairs press release submitted to MuniMall)
911 Access Endorsed
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) National Board of Directors has endorsed a resolution submitted by the City of Fort Saskatchewan, calling for access to Emergency 911 databases for Emergency Public Warning Systems. (City of Fort Saskatchewan press release submitted to MuniMall)
County Under Pressure
MORINVILLE -- The concept plan for a controversial subdivision for 16,000 residents to be built along St. Albert's northern boundary is an ill-conceived, vague document that addresses few of the concerns of landowners in the area, Sturgeon County council heard. (stalbertgazette.com)
Gas Options Explored
REDWATER -- Redwater Town Council has postponed making a decision on the future of its natural gas supply in order to more fully explore other options that could save some money. Third story down. (Morinville Mirror and Redwater Tribune Newspapers)
Long-Term Capital Plan Launched
HINTON -- Hinton Town Council ratified a long term capital plan that held few surprises in the way of immediate priorities. (Hinton Parklander)
Taxpayers On Hook
HIGH PRAIRIE -- High Prairie Mayor John Brodrick is admitting town council made a mistake that cost taxpayers just under $8G. (South Peace News)
Airport Could Be Grounded
VERMILION -- An internal closure study on the Vermilion Airport initiated by town council is nearing completion, with possible closure dates of June 2005 or 2006 being mentioned. (Vermilion Standard)
Alberta Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Alberta, MuniMall recommends starting with Municipal Profiles, a very current set of listings maintained by Alberta Municipal Affairs.
Municipal Saskatchewan
City Appeals $12M Lawsuit
MOOSE JAW -- A multi-million-dollar personal injury award is being appealed by the city of Moose Jaw and its former police chief. (CBC Saskatchewan)
New Legislation For Lloyd
LLOYDMINSTER -- The Saskatchewan government has introduced new legislation that will bring the City of Lloydminster closer to updating the historic document that governs the Border City. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
Village Defies Province
ST. BRIEUX -- The Village of St. Brieux is defying the provincial government by refusing to pay a bill for policing costs. (Melfort Journal)
National Appointment For Mayor
REGINA -- His Worship Mayor Pat Fiacco has been re-appointed for a second term as the Big City Mayors' Caucus representative on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities National Board. (City of Regina - News Release)
Rurals, Urbans At Odds
REGINA -- There appears to be divisions growing between the group that represents cities in Saskatchewan and the one that stands up for rural areas as preparations are made to protest the province's school taxes at the legislature Thursday. (CBC Saskatchewan)
Promises, Promises
REGINA -- The association of rural municipalities wants to remind Premier Lorne Calvert of his promise to cut school taxes. (CBC Saskatchewan)
Saskatchewan Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Saskatchewan, MuniMall recommends starting with the Municipal Directory System, maintained by Saskatchewan Government Relations and Aboriginal Affairs.
Municipal Manitoba
Big Staff Changes
STONEWALL -- One of the South Interlake Planning District's 3 employees retired this month, another will retire at the end of the week and a third will officially resign. (Stonewall Argus and Teulon Times)
Tempers Flare
BEAUSEJOUR -- A packed municipal chambers applauded after Beausejour Mayor Harvey Giesbrecht was asked to step down. (Beausejour Review)
AMM Meets Preem
WINNIPEG -- T he AMM Board of Directors has completed one of the most important meetings of the year -- the annual meeting with the Cabinet. (AMM website)
Equal Rights For Rural Smoke Eaters
BRANDON -- The brave souls who volunteer to fight fires in rural Manitoba must be given the same treatment by the Workers Compensation Board as full-time city firefighters, says the president of the Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs. (Brandon Sun)
Plug Pulled On Sewage Levy
DUNNOTTAR -- The Village of Dunnottar council has withdrawn a controversial bylaw that would have imposed a $275 annual fee for the collection and transportation of sewage in the village. (Interlake Spectator)
Golden Garbage
SELKIRK -- Selkirk's garbage has a distinct smell of success -- the city was awarded a sustainable community award by the FCM for its efforts to reduce solid waste. (Selkirk Journal)
Mayoral Election Anticipates Low Turnout
WINNIPEG -- Nine candidates working to win the votes of Winnipeggers in the June 22 mayoral byelection -- but how many voters will actually cast a ballot? (CBC Manitoba)
Hot Evaluation
WINKLER -- Winkler has been chosen as one of four firefighting evaluation sites in the province, and the plan is to make it a permanent practice site for local fire departments. (Winkler Times)
Manitoba Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Manitoba, MuniMall recommends starting with Manitoba Municipal Profiles, maintained by Manitoba's Department of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Municipal North
Bylaw Bruisers
WHITEHORSE, YK-- City bylaw officials in Whitehorse are getting tougher on cyclists who disobey the rules, and one local cyclist says he has a big bruise to show for it. (CBC North)
Good Intentions Fined
WHITEHORSE, YK -- Commuters who exchanged cars for bikes on Clean Air Day found themselves on the receiving end of fines as city bylaw officers cracked down in earnest on cycling infractions. (Whitehorse Star Online)
Smoke Eater Appreciation
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- The Honourable Michael McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, is urging all Northwest Territories residents to thank the brave firefighters and fire departments that safeguard northern communities. (Government of Northwest Territories - Press Release)
Boil Advisory Still On
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- The Yellowknife River is getting clearer, but officials say it's still too cloudy to lift the health advisory to boil all tap water. (CBC North)
Municipal North Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in the Northwest Territories, MuniMall recommends starting with the MACA Community Database, maintained by the NWT's Municipal and Community Affairs. For Yukon contacts, try Yukon Community Profiles. We are not aware of any online directory for Nunavut; if you can recommend one, please email us.
Municipal Ontario
City Manager Leaving
MISSISSAUGA -- Hazel McCallion and Members of City Council have accepted the resignation of Dave O'Brien, City Manager. (City of Mississauga News Release)
New CAO Has Baggage
PARRY SOUND-- Seguin Township's new CAO is coming with baggage that people in Waterloo would call scandalous. (Parry Sound North Star)
Ditch CAO Position?
BRANTFORD -- City council is going to study the possibility of ditching the CAO job, but not before spending $36G on a headhunter to replace outgoing CAO Hans Loewig. (Osprey Media Group - Brantford Expositor)
Council Offers Help With Legal Bill
OTTAWA -- Ottawa city councillors have come up with a possible compromise to help pay the legal bills of Councillor Shawn Little, who fought charges of election overspending in 2002 and sued a fellow coucillor for slander. (CBC Ottawa)
Rural Roasting Decried
GODERICH -- The ongoing fire between Ontario's rural and urban communities became a roaring blaze during last week's county council meeting as Huron's municipal representatives took offence to a recent National Post editorial. (Goderich Signal-Star)
Report Labelled "Disgusting"
GODERICH -- "Disgusting" was the word used by several Huron County councillors to describe the report by Ontario's Panel on the Role of Government. (Wingham Advance-Times)
Border Town Issues
FORT ERIE -- The mayors of four Niagara border communities want federal, provincial and state governments on both sides of the border to get more involved in border town issues. (Osprey Media Group - Niagara Falls Review)
Rift On Council
SARNIA -- A rift between Coun. Joe Murray and Mayor Mike Bradley shows no signs of abating as council has called for a special meeting to focus on communication at city hall. (Osprey Media Group - Sarnia Observer)
Boil Advisory Criticized
AMHERSTBURG -- The boil water advisory that covered Amherstburg has been rescinded but not everyone is happy with the way people were notified. (Amherstburg Echo)
Tax Break For Farmers
CHATHAM -- Chatham-Kent farmers are getting a break on their municipal taxes. (Chatham This Week)
Amalgamation Foes Flex Muscles
LONDON -- Opponents of municipal mergers -- including several from Southwestern Ontario -- will take their protest to the streets at a rally in Toronto. (London Free Press)
Bulls Will Run
KENILWORTH -- Reversing a previous decision, Council allowed a controversial running of the bulls event in the township. (Mount Forest Confederate)
Walkerton Water Backup
WALKERTON -- The backup to Walkerton's water supply will come from a new well after Brockton council voted to go with a new ground water source in emergencies. (walkerton.com - Herald Times)
Pricey Privitization Probe
HAMILTON -- Shrugging off a heavy bill from the City, Hamilton Water Watch is teaming up with a city councillor to force the municipal government to reveal how much privatized water management has cost. (CUPE)
Mayors Meet On Development Strategy
TORONTO -- Mayor David Miller will travel to Montreal to participate in the first National Forum on Economic Growth, an opportunity for Canada's big city mayors to meet with each other, and with business and community leaders, to form a development strategy for Canada's large urban areas. (City of Toronto News Release)
Legislation Strengthens Partnership
TORONTO -- The McGuinty government is strengthening its partnership with Ontario's municipalities by introducing legislation recognizing its agreement with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to consult on legislation and regulations that affect municipalities, said the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. (Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - News Release)
Land-Use Planning Examined
TORONTO -- The McGuinty government is talking to Ontarians about reforming the Ontario Municipal Board and the land-use planning system, announced Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Gerretsen. (Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - News Release)
Costly Conclusion To 4 Year Boil Order
KING CITY -- Four years after being told their tap water was unsafe for drinking, all 51 households in a tiny King Township village are being asked to pony up more than $9,900 each for safe water. (yorkregion.com)
Frustration Soars
BRAMPTON -- Frustration levels soared in the council chambers following a presentation by the Fair Share Task Force. "The province is doing squat," said Regional Councillor Paul Palleschi. (Brampton Guardian)
Mayor Shocked At County Decision
PETERBOROUGH -- A decision by Peterborough County to pull out of its partnership with the City through the Greater Peterborough and Area Economic Development Corporation (GPA EDC) was a shock to Mayor Sylvia Sutherland. (mykawartha.com)
Scoflaws Paying Up
PETERBOROUGH -- A collection agency has recouped nearly $500,000 in unpaid fines for the city. (Peterborough Examiner)
Study Kept From Council
KINGSTON -- In a glaring omission that will skew proceedings, Kingston councillors will meet for a crucial vote without having considered a consultant's study. (Osprey Media Group - Kingston-Whig Standard)
Rats!
SAULT STE MARIE -- What's brown, furry, and has invaded the greater P-patch area? Rats. Rodents commonly known for carrying the infamous bubonic plague have infested Sault Ste. Marie's P-patch subdivision. (Osprey Media Group - Sault This Week)
Former Mayor Recovering
TIMMINS -- Former Timmins mayor Michael Doody is resting comfortably in Timmins and District Hospital after suffering a heart attack. (Osprey Media Group - Timmins Daily Press)
Blue Boxes Get Some Green
FORT FRANCES -- Stewardship Ontario sent out cheques totaling $6.7M to 190 municipalities for blue box programs, and Fort Frances wound up getting $6,408 as its share. (Fort Frances Times Online)
Ontario Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in this province, MuniMall recommends starting with Community Profiles, maintained by Ontario Economic Development.
Municipal Atlantic
Provincial Review Follows Deficit
GEORGETOWN, PE -- The Department of Municipal Affairs will be keeping a close eye on Georgetown's financial affairs after town council announced a deficit budget earlier this year. (PEICanada.com)
Water Woes
SAINT JOHN, NB -- The Village of Blacks Harbour asked residents to cut back on their use of water after a break in the system discoloured the water. (CBC - New Brunswick)
"Disaster" Says Mayor
FREDERICTON, NB -- Dalhousie Mayor Clem Tremblay says the Lord government will take the heart and soul from his community when it closes its 44-bed hospital. (CBC - New Brunswick)
Residents Fight On
FREDERICTON, NB -- Homeowners on York Street in Fredericton are raising the stakes in their battle against the city. (CBC - New Brunswick)
Hefty Education Costs
HALIFAX, NS -- Residents of Halifax Regional Municipality will be paying all -- plus more -- of the total $2.7 million in new money going to provincial school boards for mandatory education funding, said Mayor Peter Kelly. (Halifax Regional Municipality - News Release)
$1M Muni Greening
NEW GLASGOW, NS -- The East River Pollution Abatement System of the Pictou County District Planning Commission will benefit from a Green Municipal Investment Fund (GMIF) $500,000 grant and $500,000 loan for a biosolids stabilization upgrade. (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
Recycling For Profit
CORNER BROOK, NL -- Paul Basha says he's just picking up where the City of Corner Brook has struggled when it comes to the collection of recyclable items. (Humber Log)
New Waste Management Explored
ARNOLD'S COVE, NL -- Municipal leaders from neighbouring communities have been invited to meet to discuss the proposed new waste management system for the region from Clarenville to St. John's. (Government of Newfoundland & Labrador - News Release)
Voluntary Amalgamation Approved
CATALINA, NL -- Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, announced today that the Towns of Catalina, Port Union and Melrose will be disincorporated to establish the new Town of Trinity Bay North, effective January 1, 2005. (Government of Newfoundland & Labrador - News Release)
Municipal Atlantic Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Prince Edward Island, MuniMall recommends starting with the PEI Municipalities web page, maintained by InfoPEI. For Nova Scotia officials, try Municipal Contacts from Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. For contacts in Newfoundland and Labrador, check out the Municipal Directory on this province's Municipal and provincial Affairs website. Though incomplete, the best online directory for New Brunswick municipalities is the Municipal Information list maintained by the Government of Canada Depository Services Program. If you can recommend other municipal contact lists on the Internet, please email us.
Getting Wired
County Maps Now Online
PETERBOROUGH, ON -- Peterborough County residents and visitors can find their way with the County's new Geographic Information System (GIS). (myKawartha.com)
Free Email Newsletters . . . That Free Your Thinking
BRIGHTON, UK -- The independent publisher Headstar produces email free newsletters on the social issues surrounding the internet and other new technologies. E-Government Bulletin is the flagship publication: a bi-weekly newsletter on the development of online public services by local government and the wider public sector. Join its 11,000 readers: to receive a regular copy simply send a blank email to: egb@headstar.com. And for more information on all Headstar publications, visit the Headstar website through the link above.
Best Practices
Regional Alliance Gets Results
KITSCOTY, AB -- The City of Lloydminster, County of Vermilion River #24, Town of Vermilion and Villages of Marwayne, Dewberry, Kitscoty and Paradise Valley formed an association to expand economic development opportunities and strengthen regional partnerships. Another cool practice recently posted on MENet, Alberta's Municipal Excellence Network. (MENet.ab.ca)
Timed Blow Offs Blow Down Costs
RICHMOND HILL, ON -- The Town of Richmond Hill employs a method of Automatic Blow Offs (timed flushes) on dead ends throughout the water distribution system to improve chlorine residual and overall water quality in a cost-effective manner. Just selected as a best practice by the Ontario Centre for Municipal Best Practices. (OCMBP website)
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