Municipal Alberta
Greener Pastures For CAO
TABER -- The departure of Taber CAO Ken Mundy is a natural progression in the administrator's career, but it won't dampen the impact. Second story down. (Taber Times)
Errant Alderman Faces 5 Years
LETHBRIDGE -- Dar Heatherington led police on a wild goose chase by penning salacious letters to herself and claiming they came from a stalker, a judge ruled. (Calgary Sun)
. . . And Will Be Asked To Leave
CALGARY -- Dar Heatherington's future as a city of Lethbridge alderman will be up for debate, as council asks for her resignation. (CBC Calgary)
Challenger For Mayor
CANMORE -- Incumbent Mayor Glen Craig will face a challenge for his job this fall from his predecessor. (Canmore Leader)
Growth Halts
COCHRANE -- Cochrane's days of being the country's fastest growing community have come to a startling halt as the town's growth rate over the past two years has almost completely stagnated. (Cochrane Times)
New CAO
ROCKY VIEW -- The MD of Rocky View has brought in a diverse blend of experience by hiring former Calgary alderman Ray Clark as its new CAO. (Calgary Country)
Rival To The Rescue
CALGARY -- Six City of Calgary Disaster Social Services staff helped Edmonton city organize and operate three registration and information sites to assist residents whose properties were affected by the flooding. (City of Calgary - News Release)
Satisfied Citizens
CALGARY -- The results of the 2004 City of Calgary Citizen Satisfaction Survey show that an overwhelming number of city residents are exceptionally pleased with both the level and quality of services and programs. (City of Calgary - News Release)
Municipally Excellent Practices: Quarterly Reporting
AIRDRIE -- The City of Airdrie developed a quarterly reporting process that focuses not only financial results, but also on the status of business plan goals, Council's strategic priorities, capital projects, and a segment for each department's highlights and/or challenges for the quarter. Another compelling practice recently posted on MENet, Alberta's Municipal Excellence Network. (www.menet.ab.ca)
Airport Deal Grounded
DIDSBURY -- Mountain View County and the Towns of Didsbury and Olds, are still struggling to make an agreement on the purchase of the Olds/Didsbury Airport. (Didsbury Review Online)
Ratepayers Go Too Far: Mayor
DIDSBURY -- The reeve of Mountain View County says a local ratepayers group has gone too far in monitoring his council's activities. (Red Deer Advocate)
Real Race For Mayor
RED DEER -- All three mayoralty candidates agree on one thing: having an actual mayor's race for the first time in 12 years will spark people's interests. (Red Deer Express)
Wells Counter Landfill Leachates
WETASKIWIN -- The City's landfill has been a hive of activity as of late as crews implement measures to halt an age-old concern. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser)
CAO Resigns
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- The City of Fort Saskatchewan's top administrator is resigning after serving the city for almost 21 years. (City of Fort Saskatchewan Release hosted on MuniMall)
CAOs Give Feedback
EDMONTON -- A recent survey invited input on areas such as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) employment, education and training, municipal planning and priorities, succession planning, and various programs and services offered by Alberta Municipal Affairs. PDF (Alberta Municipal Affairs)
Taxing Problems: A MuniMall Guest Column
EDMONTON -- Edmonton city council has initiated discussions with neighbouring municipalities on tax-sharing, predictably raising fears of forced amalgamations in the region. MuniMall Guest Columnist (and former Toronto mayor) John Sewell analyzes the rising level of anxiety. (Local Government Bulletin article reproduced on MuniMall)
Fightin' Words
EDMONTON -- Mayor Bill Smith has launched his re-election campaign with a promise to annex Edmonton's international airport. (CBC Edmonton)
Oil And Gas Fuel Bylaws
SHERWOOD PARK -- Strathcona County continues to explore the best way to gain some control over oil and gas exploration activities. (Sherwood Park News)
Collapse Shocks AUMA
PEACE RIVER -- The AUMA expressed profound disappointment over the sudden and unexpected notice given by the Municipal Districts of Peace and Northern Lights No. 22 and Northern Sunrise County to terminate the Inter-municipal Cost Sharing agreement they have with the Town of Peace River. PDF file. (AUMA)
Disappointing Deal On Cop Costs
HINTON -- Members of town council have hesitantly agreed to sign a police funding agreement with the province that falls far short of what was originally expected. (Hinton Parklander)
New Agreement Signed
JASPER -- Although Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper may not always see eye-to-eye, a new Relationship Agreement formalizes the values and principles that have been guiding the relationship since municipal incorporation. (Jasper Booster)
Deregulation Doubts
REDWATER-- Redwater Mayor Brian Brigden questions the efficiency of electricity deregulation, where 3 smaller companies instead of one large one will now be involved in delivering electricity to town residents. (Redwater Review)
Property Tax Doubled
VERMILION -- Fred Day has been a resident of the small village of Derwent since 1980 and has lived there since 1994, but right now he's hopping mad over a significant increase in his taxes. (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.
Contribute to MuniMall
Does your municipality have something new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 9,000 local government readers from coast to coast. MuniMall welcomes updates from all municipalities across Canada, and will make every effort to run submissions.
Municipal Saskatchewan
SK Cities Top Crime List
REGINA -- Saskatoon and Regina have the worst crime rates in all of Canada, according to numbers released. (CBC Saskatchewan)
. . . But Mayor Says Crime Is Down
SASKATOON -- Saskatoon Mayor and Chair of the Board of Police Commissioners Don Atchison released second quarter statistics that indicate a decrease in the number of reported incidents in 2004. (City of Saskatoon - News Release)
New City Manager
LLOYDMINSTER -- After some shuffling and restructuring council says the city will operate more efficiently, but the changes don't come without a price. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
Services Under Review
REGINA -- Mayor Pat Fiacco announced that a report will go to City Council recommending the hiring of the consulting firm of TkMC to conduct an external review of the City's core services, service levels, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the City's service delivery. (City of Regina - News Release)
More Garbage Headaches
MEADOW LAKE -- The town and rural municipalities' ongoing search for a new landfill site has stirred up some strong emotions by those residents who don't want it in their neighbourhoods. Editorial opinion piece. (Meadow Lake Progress)
Dumpster Doodling
YORKTON -- As part of a program by the local art gallery, Yorkton children started painting dumpsters to brighten up the city and send a positive message to young people. (CBC Saskatchewan)
Crow Control
MELFORT -- As concern has grown about West Nile virus, so has talk about what can be done to eradicate the carriers of this disease, like the crow. (Melfort Journal)
Boil Order Issued
TOBIN LAKE -- The Resort Village of Tobin Lake was placed under a boil water advisory after testing revealed trace amounts of fecal colliform bacteria. (Nipawin Journal)
City Status Sought
MEADOW LAKE -- The province has agreed to help Meadow Lake become Saskatchewan's newest city by sharing the costs of a $25G interim census. (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.
Contribute to MuniMall
Does your municipality have something new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 9,000 local government readers from coast to coast. MuniMall welcomes updates from all municipalities across Canada, and will make every effort to run submissions.
Municipal Manitoba
Fogging Ordered by Province
DELORAINE -- A sharp jump in the number of mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus has prompted the provincial government to order chemical fogging in two towns. (CBC Manitoba)
Skeeter War Gets Violent
WINNIPEG -- Protesters and police clashed at a Winnipeg compound as city trucks attempted to leave to fog for mosquitoes. (CBC News)
RMs Ready To Revolt
BEAUSEJOUR -- An ongoing battle to get education funding off the property tax bill is gaining momentum across the province and some rural municipalities are going so far as to suggest a revolt. (Beausejour Review)
Cop Costs Too High
WINNIPEG -- The Large Urban Policing Working Group met with Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh to discuss the rapid increase in police costs over the past number of years. PDF file. (Association of Manitoba Municipalities - News Release)
Former Mayor Mourned
ALTONA -- The Town of Altona is mourning the loss of former mayor Dick Penner. (Altona Red River Valley Echo)
Best Practices: Regional Waste Management
NEEPAWA -- Three towns and five RMs show the right way to plan and build a shared waste facility. Another Successful Municipal Practice hosted by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. (amm.mb.ca)
Gun Bylaw For RM
EAST SELKIRK -- A bylaw looking to put a trigger lock on errant gunplay has received first reading. (Selkirk Journal)
Cooperative Enforcement
PLUM COULEE -- More community animal control and bylaw enforcement is the goal of an initiative involving three south-central Manitoba communities. (Carman Valley Leader)
Sewage Conspiracy Bubbling?
DUNNOTTAR -- Speakers from the year-old ratepayers' group were out in full force for round 2 in the village's sewage disposal controversy. (Interlake Spectator)
Water Funding Down Drain
WOODLANDS -- The RM of Woodlands has decided it won't swallow the costs of providing drinking water for one of its villages. (Stonewall Argus and Teulon Times)
Access Worries
ST. ANDREWS -- An emotional delegation of residents from Larter Rapids Landing development met with St. Andrews council to voice their concerns regarding access to the development and overall road conditions. (Selkirk Journal)
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.
Contribute to MuniMall
Does your municipality have something new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 9,000 local government readers from coast to coast. MuniMall welcomes updates from all municipalities across Canada, and will make every effort to run submissions.
Municipal North
Dungeon Of Debt
DAWSON CITY, YK -- Dawson City is trying to dig its way out of a $6M financial hole, and the auditor is publicly wondering if the Town can make good on its obligations. (CBC North)
Male Chief Over Female Challengers
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- Clifford Daniels is the new chief of Rae, triumphing over two female candidates. (CBC North)
State Of Emergency
FORT MCPHERSON, NT -- Fort McPherson has declared a state of emergency as a forest fire creeps closer to the hamlet. (CBC North)
Privacy Legislation Should Include Municipalities
IQALUIT, NU -- Nunavut's information and privacy commissioner says there's an urgent need to include municipalities under the territory's privacy legislation. (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. Best contact listing by far in Nunavut is the Nunavut Association of Municipalities Communities Directory.
Contribute to MuniMall
Does your municipality have something new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 9,000 local government readers from coast to coast. MuniMall welcomes updates from all municipalities across Canada, and will make every effort to run submissions.
Municipal Ontario
Police Complaints System Review
SARNIA -- With a formal review of the police complaints system underway, Sarnia wants the man in charge of the review to come for a visit. (Osprey Media Group, Inc. - The Sarnia Observer)
New GM Of Client Services
WINDSOR -- A lawyer will be the new General Manager of Client Services at the Corporation of the City of Windsor. (City of Windsor - News Release)
Bylaw Enforcement Outsourced
CLINTON -- Council has agreed to contract out its bylaw-enforcement service to the National Protection Agency. (Clinton News-Record)
De-Amalgamation Draws Crowd
ZURICH -- If a public meeting last week in Hensall is any indication, the Municipality of Bluewater is not one big happy family. (Exeter Times Advocate)
Non-Compliance Fine
ELMIRA -- The Corporation of the Township of Woolwich has been fined $1,000--plus a victim fine surcharge -- after pleading guilty to non-compliance with the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA). (Ontario Ministry of the Environment - News Release)
Mayor To Vie For Warden's Job
PORT ELGIN -- Saugeen Shores Mayor Mark Kraemer is one of two contenders for 2005 Warden of Bruce County. (Shoreline Beacon)
Blue Box Boost
BRAMPTON -- The Region of Peel recently received $657G from Stewardship Ontario to help fund their Blue Box recycling program. (The Brampton Guardian)
Separatist Strength
MISSISSAUGA -- Mississauga received over 20,000 pledge cards with the overwhelming majority (99%) of residents pledging "yes" to Mississauga becoming a Separated City, no longer part of the Region of Peel. (City of Mississauga Release)
$505M Lawsuit
TORONTO -- A local businessman is suing the City of Toronto for more than half-a-billion dollars over its decision to scrap a planned bridge to the Island Airport. (CBC Toronto)
Stopping Ticket Fraud
TORONTO -- In a move to curb what it calls a rise in parking ticket fraud, Toronto city council has voted to stop private companies from handing out their own tickets or fines. (CBC Toronto)
Boat Comes In For Waterfront
TORONTO -- Toronto's waterfront agency received good news in the form of a much-delayed $334-million commitment from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. (CBC Toronto)
"Last Chance" Sprawl Plan
TORONTO -- A new government strategy to ease urban sprawl could be the "last chance to build the future we want," says David Caplan, provincial minister of public infrastructure renewal. (The Star)
Sprawl Battle Begins In Brampton
BRAMPTON -- Downtown Brampton is one of 11 "priority urban centres" for more intense development, according to a provincial paper on curbing urban sprawl. (The Brampton Guardian)
Growth Concerns
AJAX -- The rural areas of Ajax could be opened up for development under a plan being proposed by the Province. (durhamregion.com)
Municipalities Take Heat
KESWICK -- A Lake Simcoe study criticized municipalities for not taking environmental protection seriously, but much of what is done municipally is dictated by the Planning Act, a provincial law, Georgina Mayor Rob Grossi said. (yorkregion.com)
Council Agendas Go High-Tech
PORT HOPE -- Having to pay for agenda packages is only part of a technological revolution coming for Port Hope council. (Osprey Media Group Inc. - Northumberland Today)
CAO Moves On
AURORA -- The Town of Aurora has started its search for a new chief administrative officer. (yorkregion.com)
Fired Staffer Reinstated
BOWMANVILLE -- A local firefighter who was terminated for speaking up about public safety during the recent federal election campaign has been reinstated by council. (durhamregion.com)
Staff Restructuring Saves $100G
CAMPBELLFORD -- Trent Hills will save $100,000 a year by not filling two vacant positions as part of a restructuring of staff functions. (Online Independent)
Severances Denied, Conflict Alleged
BRIGHTON -- A Brighton landowner whose bid for 2 severances were turned down alleges conflict of interest, and says he will appeal council's decision to the Ontario Municipal Board. (Online Independent)
Infrastructure Funds Flow
OTTAWA -- The good news is the Ontario government has a $100-billion plan to build and improve hospitals, schools, sewers, water systems, and roads. Money will come from all 3 levels of government, public-private partnerships (P3s), and user fees. (CBC Ottawa)
Forest Plan Pitched
DEEP RIVER -- A prominent local forester wants Deep River to develop a management plan for its forested lands. (North Renfrew Times)
Heads Roll
NEW TECUMSETH -- The dismantling of New Tecumseth's public works department has cost two middle managers their jobs and will save the Town $150,000 annually. (New Tecumseth Online)
Appeal Likely
PARRY SOUND -- Seguin Township may be heading back to court in the near future, unable to stomach an unfavorable land zoning ruling and the order to pay the complainant's $67G legal bill. (Parry Sound North Star)
Two Skateboard Parks Rolled Out
SUDBURY -- Backing onto the bocce courts at Delki Dozzi Park is one of the city's newest skateboard parks. (Osprey Media Group Inc. - The Sudbury Star)
New Decertification Strategy
SAULT STE. MARIE -- Council passed a resolution supporting the recommendation to suspend attempts to decertify local labourers and carpenters. (Osprey Media Group, Inc. - Sault This Week)
Fired Manager Settles
THUNDER BAY -- Fired former city manager Brian MacRae is glad his multimillion dollar lawsuit with the City of Thunder Bay is over. (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal)
Ontario Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in this province, MuniMall recommends starting with Community Profiles, maintained by Ontario Economic Development.
Contribute to MuniMall
Does your municipality have something new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 9,000 local government readers from coast to coast. MuniMall welcomes updates from all municipalities across Canada, and will make every effort to run submissions.
Municipal Atlantic
Slow Secrecy Decision
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- Charlottetown Councillor Bruce Garrity wants the city to make up its mind about closed committee meetings. (CBC - Prince Edward Island)
Bounty On Vandals
KENSINGTON, PE -- The Town of Kensington is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to the conviction of people who destroy public property. (CBC - Prince Edward Island)
Guilty Plea On Fraud Rap
ST. ANDREW, NB -- The former town manager of St. Andrews has pleaded guilty to fraud. (CBC - New Brunswick)
Smell Solution
SAINT JOHN, NB -- Councillor Stephen Chase hopes to wash away the problem of raw sewage that befouls Marsh Creek and is most malodorous in summer. (CBC - New Brunswick)
Stinking Town May Get Clean-Up Help
LAMEQUE, NB -- An Ontario company may have found a way to clean up the rotting algae that's stinking up Lameque Bay. (CBC - New Brunswick)
Disaster Help Announced
HALIFAX, NS -- The province has announced a disaster financial assistance arrangement (DFAA) to help offset extraordinary costs incurred by municipalities and the provincial government as a result of the Feb 18 blizzard. (Emergency Measures Organization)
Energy-Enviro Strategy Sought
HALIFAX, NS -- Major players in the local energy field have accepted an invitation from Halifax Regional Municipality to form a local working group and bring forward recommendations on how HRM can best develop and move ahead with a future energy and environmental strategy. (Halifax Regional Municipality - News Release)
Council Backs Gays
SYDNEY, NS -- For the first time ever, a Gay Pride flag flutters in front of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality's Civic Centre. (CBC - Nova Scotia)
Deadline Extended
CANSO, NS -- Barry Barnet, minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, has agreed to extend the deadline regarding Canso's town status. (Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations)
Not Dry No More
CLARK'S HARBOUR, NS --The small town of Clark's Harbour is waking up to a boozier future after residents voted to end a ban on selling alcohol. (CBC News: Nova Scotia)
Mayor Wants Icebergs Protected
BONAVISTA, NL -- The mayor of a small town in Newfoundland wants the provincial government to come up with ways to protect icebergs, saying they're a valuable tourism resource. (CBC News: Nfld)
Conservation Gets Tough
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- The town of Bay Roberts has threatened to cut off water to businesses if they don't comply with conservation measures. (CBC - Newfoundland&Labrador)
Former Councillor Honoured
BISHOP'S FALLS, NL -- Town council has renamed the West Trailer Court, Hobbs Park, recognizing the service former town councillor Bob Hobbs has given the community over the past two decades. (Advertiser)
Minister Gets Earful
LEWISPORTE, NL -- The Lewisporte Area Chamber of Commerce, Town council and Lewisporte MHA Tom Rideout toured medical facilities in Lewisporte with Minister Marsall to bring the minister up to speed on their concerns with the fragmentation of the health care services. (The Pilot)
Different Court Battle
SPRINGDALE, NL --- Town officials are fighting a Provincial Court closure decision. (nor'wester)
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.
Contribute to MuniMall
Does your municipality have something new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 9,000 local government readers from coast to coast. MuniMall welcomes updates from all municipalities across Canada, and will make every effort to run submissions.
Getting Wired
New Muni Portal
TORONTO -- The Ontario Government is responding to the varying needs of municipalities by piloting a regional web portal project -- the Ontario Regional Area Municipal Portal (OnRAMP). (MAH - OnRAMP)
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