Municipal Alberta
Huge Infrastructure Deficit
CALGARY -- The Canada West Foundation has released a study suggesting Alberta's infrastructure funding deficit is approaching $6 billion, due to a decade of federal and provincial debt and deficit reduction. (stalbertgazette.com)
AUMA Supports Reinvestment
EDMONTON -- The AUMA renewed its support of the province's proposed $3.3 billion to address the municipal infrastructure debt. PDF file (AUMA - News Release)
The Dirt On Sewage
VULCAN -- If you stood downwind of the sewage lagoons this summer you will know why the council decided to look into their status. (Vulcan Advocate)
Regional Water Study Funded
BROOKS -- The Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs has awarded a one-time conditional grant in the amount of $75,000 to the County of Newell to undertake activities to explore a regional water system. (The Brooks Bulletin)
Christmas Party Canned
CROWSNEST PASS -- A heated debate over "who should pay" led Council to cancel this year's Christmas party for municipal employees. (Crowsnest Pass Promoter)
Council Computerized
PINCHER CREEK -- The M.D. was awarded a $36,700 grant toward an 'e-council' project, which will see council and administration equipped with laptop computers and accessories (Pincher Creek Echo)
Peppered With Protection
FOREMOST -- County protective services officer Stewart Payne has been issued the right to carry pepper spray and a baton by County of Forty Mile councillors. Second story down. (40 Mile County Commentator)
Tax On Power Considered
CANMORE -- Canmore town council is considering a franchise agreement with Fortis Alberta Inc. that will give the town the authority to tax power bills. (Canmore Leader)
Life After Annexation
COCHRANE -- The shape of post-annexation Cochrane became a little clearer as first reading was passed on a number of bylaws that illustrate developers' plans for newly-acquired land in the town. (Cochrane Times)
"Leading Edge" Report Released
CALGARY -- The long-awaited "Safe Streets, Safe City" report recommends broad changes to the way crime and social issues are managed in the Beltline, an oft-maligned area with some of Calgary's worst prostitution and drug problems. (Calgary Herald)
Election Investigation Takes New Twist
CALGARY -- Police in Calgary searched the home of a member of the provincial legislature as part of an investigation into voting irregularities in last month's municipal election. (CBC News)
Transit Expands
AIRDRIE -- To provide for the needs of a growing city, Airdrie's transit system is growing as well. (Airdrie Echo)
Hamlet ASP Wins Support
CALGARY -- After receiving strong support from residents in the area, the council of the Municipal District of Rocky View unanimously approved an Area Structure Plan for the Hamlet of Indus. (Rocky View Weekly Newspaper)
Recount Finally Over
RED DEER -- The 4 week wait is over, and Jim Wood is Red Deer County's Division 1 councillor after a tight election day finish, a county recount and a legal challenge. (Red Deer Advocate)
Strategic Planning Creates Vision
ECKVILLE -- A vibrant, safe and growing community of choice for citizens and business has been identified as town council's vision for Eckville following a two-day orientation and strategic planning session. (Eckville Echo)
Ambulance Agreement Inked
WAINWRIGHT -- The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) and the Wainwright and District Ambulance Society have reached an agreement to continue ambulance and 911 dispatch service -- good news for Cold Lake, which utilizes Wainwright's 911 dispatch service. (Cold Lake Sun)
Regional Rec Resurfaces
LEDUC -- The possibility of building a regional recreation facility was back on the table at city council's regular meeting. (Leduc Representative)
Elder Abuse Team Takes Award
EDMONTON -- To prevent and respond to elder abuse by working in partnership with the community, the City of Edmonton developed the Elder Abuse Intervention Team, a collaborative effort of 3 agencies in partnership with hundreds of other services and professionals. Another innovative practice recently posted on Alberta's Municipal Excellence Network, and winner of the Minister's 2004 Outstanding Achievement Award. (MENet.ab.ca)
Convention Underway
EDMONTON -- Municipal politicians from all over the province have gathered in Edmonton, to try to get some answers on fixing roads and sidewalks. (630Ched.com)
Airport Furor
EDMONTON -- Rural politicians from one end of the province to the other condemned Wednesday the decision to close the downtown airport to flights from Lethbridge and Calgary. (Edmonton Journal)
Bidding Rules Questioned
EDMONTON -- Strict requirements on Edmonton's new photo-radar contract favour the controversial company now serving the city, say two U.S.-based photo-enforcement providers that handle major North American red-light camera contracts. (Edmonton Sun)
Leachate Alert
ST. ALBERT -- Environment Canada has asked the City of St. Albert to take remedial action to prevent leachate seeping from buried landfill and sewage lagoons in Riel Park. (stalbert.gazette.com)
Public Input Invited
SHERWOOD PARK -- Strathcona County is beginning work to update the Municipal Development Plan, and as a first step, interested members of the public are invited to take part in a workshop. (Strathcona County - News Release)
Cop Costs As Election Issue
HINTON -- Seven municipalities, including the Town of Hinton, joined together during a media conference call aimed at making police funding a provincial election issue. (Hinton Parklander)
Butt Bylaw In Works
JASPER -- Jasper municipal council will get the ball rolling in the process to craft a no smoking bylaw for the community. (Jasper Booster)
Supper Diplomacy
PEACE RIVER -- The Town of Peace River has decided to use diplomatic suppers as a means of maintain good relations with neighbouring councils and the City of Edmonton. (Peace River Record Gazette)
Local 911 Pondered
BONNYVILLE -- Local emergency services groups are looking at the possibility of starting their own 911 dispatch service, after their current provider announced it wouldn't provide the service after next April. (Bonnyville Nouvelle)
Staff Allowances Upped
COLD LAKE -- Since the mayor and six city councillors have increased their travel and meal allowances, city staff asked for the same. (Cold Lake Sun)
Land Use Updated
FALHER -- An updated land-use bylaw for the Town of Falher has been adopted following a public hearing (Smoky River Express)
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.
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Municipal Saskatchewan
Cops Fired
SASKATOON -- Saskatoon's police force has fired two constables that an inquiry linked to Neil Stonechild, an aboriginal teen who froze to death in a field on the city's outskirts in 1990. (CBC News)
Blackout
TISDALE -- A transformer shorted out in a Tisdale substation when a lightning arrestor failed, leaving dozens of communities in the Northeast without power. (Melfort Journal)
Rural Communities Face Border Battle
TURTLEFORD -- Retaining foreign-trained doctors is a struggle for many rural communities and Dr. Rohan Botes' departure from the Town of Turtleford is a testament to that struggle. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
No Doctors
LA LOCHE -- La Loche residents may have no doctors to go to as the services of four physicians at the La Loche Medical Clinic have been terminated. (Meadow Lake Progress)
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.
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Municipal Manitoba
Excellence In Emerg
BEAUSEJOUR -- The Town of Beausejour was formally recognized for their excellence in emergency management during a brief ceremony and award presentation. First story down under photo. (Clipper Weekly)
Special Constable Task Force
WINNIPEG -- Attorney General Gord Mackintosh today announced Manitoba Justice, the RCMP and interested municipalities have formed a working group to determine how special constables can enhance traffic safety. (Province of Manitoba - News Release)
Smoke Eater Anniversary
ROSSER -- The Rosser Volunteer Fire Department has come a long way in 20 years. (Headingley Headliner)
CEO Resigns
WINNIPEG BEACH -- Cory Young has confirmed that he has resigned his position as the town's CEO. (Interlake Spectator)
Sewage Partnership Expands
EAST ST. PAUL -- Four Selkirk-area municipalities are hoping to come out of a potentially stinky situation smelling like a rose. (Interlake Spectator)
Amalgamation Moves Forward
LAC DU BONNET -- The amalgamation of the town and RM of Lac du Bonnet is one step closer to becoming a reality. (Lac du Bonnet Leader)
Town Plays Host
CARMAN -- Carman will be part of one of the provincial government's pre-budget meetings, and Mayor Murray Rinn said choosing the community made sense on several levels. (Carman Valley Leader)
Trash Talk Now Regulated
LAC DU BONNET -- Gate attendants at the transfer station in the RM of Lac du Bonnet will soon have to watch their choice of words when asking people to reveal the garbage they're bringing to the dump. (Lac du Bonnet Leader)
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.
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Municipal North
Cash Infusion
DAWSON CITY, YK -- The Yukon government is providing the Town of Dawson City with an immediate cash infusion to allow the town to remain solvent. (Government of Yukon - News Release)
Mayors Meet
IQALUIT, NU -- Mayors from across the Baffin will meet in Iqaluit to discuss community issues, concerns and challenges. (Nunatsiaq News)
Arena Options Pondered
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- Yellowknife city council doesn't want to waste time deciding what to do with the Gerry Murphy Arena site. (CBC North)
Fire Damages Fleet
BAKER LAKE, NU -- Police aren't ruling out arson as the cause of a fire that destroyed Baker Lake's garbage truck and damaged 10 other municipal vehicles. (CBC North)
Staff Training Starts
GRISE FORD, NU -- The hamlet office in Grise Fiord was closed while the entire hamlet staff, along with seven other community members, crammed into the adult education room at Ummimaak School to brush up on writing and communications skills. (Nunatsiaq News)
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.
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Municipal Ontario
$900M Infrastructure Fund
PETERBOROUGH -- All Ontario municipalities of less than 250,000 people can now apply to the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) to improve their public infrastructure. (Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - News Release)
Watershed Protection Studied
TORONTO -- The effects of urban sprawl and industrial development on Ontario's ecologically sensitive watersheds will be more closely examined under a $12.5 million provincial initiative. (canadaeast.com - CP National News)
Rural Deadlines Extended
OTTAWA -- The McGuinty government is listening to the needs of rural Ontario and proposing to extend compliance deadlines for small and rural drinking water systems, Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky announced. (Ontario Ministry of the Environment - News Release)
HR Beefed Up
WINDSOR -- City Council has taken further steps to stabilize the Corporation of the City of Windsor by appointing Vincenza Mihalo on an acting basis, to the vacant position of Executive Director of Human Resources. (City of Windsor - News Release)
Water Agreement Inked
TECUMSEH -- Mayor Eddie Francis of Windsor and Mayor Gary McNamara of Tecumseh today signed an historic win-win water and wastewater treatment agreement. (City of Windsor - News Release)
Nuke Waste Gets Nod
WALKERTON -- Bruce county council changed its tone and endorsed a proposal for underground storage of low and intermediate level nuclear waste at the Bruce Power site. (Kincardine News)
Two-Hatter Debate Burns Union
STRATHROY -- Local politicians and fire officials have unfairly targeted the provincial professional firefighters union in the "two hatter" controversy, a local union official believes. (Strathroy Age Dispatch)
Fuming Over Smoke Charges
CHATHAM -- A local prosecutor is "very frustrated" that 85 charges involving the Chatham-Kent smoking bylaw have been put over to May 2005. (Chatham This Week)
Homeless Study Gets Attention
HAMILTON -- City of Hamilton staff will review a report released by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to see how it can complement a number of strategies already underway to address affordable housing issues in the community. (City of Hamilton - News Release) See related story in Municipal Canada.
Court Challenge Unsuccessful
HAMILTON -- A court decision rejected attempts to prevent a compliance audit of the campaign election donations of Mayor Di Ianni and three city councillors. (Citizens at City Hall - CATCH - News Release)
Hydro Merger Narrowly Approved
ST. CATHARINES -- It was a close vote, but in the end it was St. Catharines Mayor Tim Rigby who cast the deciding vote to approve the merger of St. Catharines and Hamilton hydro. (Osprey Media Group - St. Catharine News)
311 Okayed
OAKVILLE -- Halton residents will soon be able to dial 311 to access non-emergency municipal services. (Georgetown Independent and Free Press)
Homeowner Harassment Claimed
GEORGETOWN -- Greg Baxter, an account manager for municipal relations at the Halton-Peel-York branch of Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), seemed taken aback by charges of MPAC intimidation by Halton Hills councillors. (Georgetown Independent and Free Press)
Paramedics Score Award
BRAMPTON -- Three Peel Regional Ambulance Services Paramedics have been awarded the Governor General's Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service medal. (Brampton Guardian)
International Partnership Struck
TORONTO -- Mayor of Toronto David Miller and Mayor of Frankfurt Petra Roth signed a new, formal city partnership agreement to promote business, trade, tourism and cultural relations between the two cities. (City of Toronto - News Release)
Police Lose Option
PORT HOPE -- There will no longer be any options for drivers caught in Port Hope and Cobourg in violation of the Highway Traffic Act because the provincial government has told police services to discontinue the use of Option 4. (Osprey Media Group - Northumberland Today)
Cops Tops
HAMILTON -- For the third year in a row, the Hamilton Police Service has won a spot on the list of Canada's Top 100 Employers. (Flamborough Review)
Strike Averted?
AJAX -- Municipal workers reached a tentative agreement with the Town of Ajax. (CUPE - News Release)
City Denies Responsibility
PETERBOROUGH -- The City's insurance adjuster has determined the municipality is not responsible for damage resulting from the July 15 flood. (mykawartha.com)
Retirement Age Relaxed
LINDSAY -- A city committee has recommended relaxing the mandatory retirement age for city employees, but only for crossing guards and superintendents at city-owned residences. (Osprey Media Group - The Daily Post)
Public Transit Eyed
TRENTON -- Under growing public pressure, Quinte West city council is about to study the feasibility of a public transit system. (Osprey Media Group - The Trenton Trentonian)
Official Denies Bullying
KINGSTON -- A city official denies allegations that she threatened to use legal means to oust the Kingston and District Agricultural Society from its home at the Memorial Centre. (Osprey Media Group - The Kingston Whig-Standard)
Development Stays Frozen
CANNINGTON -- Brock council didn't get the good news they had hoped for on the building ban for municipalities in the Golden Horseshoe greenbelt. (mykawartha.com)
"Alarming Financial Irregularities"
MIDHURST -- Simcoe County councillors are dealing with a new round of allegations levelled by a former employee, at the same time as a separate process gets underway to investigate the 'removal' with pay of CAO Helen MacRae and HR consultant Bob Reynolds. (New Tecumseth Free Press Online)
Recycling Kudos
MIDHURST -- Simcoe County received two awards at the recent Recycling Council of Ontario's Waste Minimization Awards ceremony held in Tottenham. (simcoe.com)
Hydro Under Microscope
BARRIE -- Following a series of bitter complaints from residents, Barrie council is asking its engineers to find out how Barrie Hydro can do its business differently. (simcoe.com)
Fire Chief Moves On
ORILLIA -- Severn Township fire chief Doug Tennant is moving on up to the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office in Thunder Bay after 13 years of service in Orillia-area fire departments. (Osprey Media Group - Orillia Packet & Times)
Storm Brewing
PENETANGUISHENE -- A marine salvager filed a lawsuit against the Town of Penetanguishene, claiming his vessel was improperly seized and consequently damaged. (Osprey Media Group - Midland Free Press)
Councillors Named In Lawsuit
VICTORIA HARBOUR -- A pending land swap of two waterfront properties has Tay Township in hot water to the tune of $5M. (Osprey Media Group - Midland Free Press)
New CAO
PERKINSFIELD -- Tiny Township's new CEO Ruth Coursey has always had a soft spot for municipal government. (Osprey Media Group - Midland Free Press)
Fast Contract Agreement
KAPUSKASING -- Municipal workers in Kapuskasing have hammered out a new three-year deal with the town after just 1 day of negotiations. (Osprey Media Group - Timmins Daily Press)
Ontario Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in this province, MuniMall recommends starting with Community Profiles, maintained by Ontario Economic Development.
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Municipal Atlantic
Protest Shuts Town Office
PORT AU CHOIX, NL -- About 100 members of a citizens' group took over the Port Au Choix municipal office in the latest escalation of hostility between council and residents. (Western Star)
. . . And Province Steps In
CORNER BROOK, NL -- The Department of Municipal Affairs has agreed to send a representative to Port au Choix, where a residents' group is calling for the council to resign. (CBC - Newfoundland & Labrador)
Justice Denied
BUCHANS, NL -- Two local mayors are calling the closure of circuit courts in their communities unjust. (Advertiser)
Safety First
STEPHENVILLE, NL -- Members of Stephenville Town Council are still concerned over the condition of the tire recycling facility. (Georgian)
Smoke Ban Blocked
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- St. John's City Council's push to ban smoking in bars and bingo halls in municipalities throughout the region may have hit a snag. (Express)
$200G In Green Funds
HOLYROOD, NL -- The Federation of Canadian Municipalities announced a $209,131 Green Municipal Funds' grant for the Town of Holyrood to test a promising low cost, low energy sewage treatment system. (FCM - News Release)
Affordable Housing Dollars Here...
RICHIBUCTO, NB -- A new 24-unit affordable housing apartment building will be built in Richibucto for singles and seniors, thanks to funding under the Canada-New Brunswick Affordable Housing Agreement. (Communications New Brunswick - News Release)
...And Here
ST. STEPHEN, NB -- A new apartment building with 12 affordable housing units for low- income families will be constructed in St. Stephen, thanks to funding under the Canada-New Brunswick Affordable Housing Agreement. (Communications New Brunswick - News Release)
Big Cities Committee Work
HALIFAX, NS -- HRM Mayor Peter Kelly has been asked to chair the Security and Emergency Preparedness sub-committee of the Big City Mayors' Caucus, and to sit on several other important committees. (Halifax Regional Municipality - News Release)
Audit Demanded
HALIFAX, NS -- The Nova Scotia Government should order an independent, comprehensive audit of the province's largest power utility to determine its emergency preparedness and its communications with the public during major weather events, says Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly. (Halifax Regional Municipality - News Release)
Renos Funded
PICTOU, NS -- The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has approved three recent projects designed to attract tourism and investment to Pictou County. (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency - 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.
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Does your municipality have anything new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 9,000 local government readers from coast to coast.
Current Events
The Next 30 Days:
-
Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) Annual Convention
-- Edmonton, AB November 17-20, 2004.
-
Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing and Association of Municipalities of Ontario 2004 Southwestern Regional Conference
-- Best Western Lamplighter Inn, London ON. Nov. 19, 2004.
-
Association of Manitoba Municipalities 6th Annual Convention
-- Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, MB November 22-25, 2004
-
Alberta Capital Region Alliance (ACRA) Fall General Assembly
-- Dow Centennial Centre, Fort Saskatchewan, AB Nov. 26, 2004.
More Events on MuniMall
See the MuniMall website for a much more comprehensive listing of regional municipal events.
List Your Event
Have an event to publicize? It's easy to inform us.
Getting Wired
Muni Internet Gets Faster
CALGARY, AB -- The students, teachers, community groups, hospitals and government offices slated to be connected to the Alberta SuperNet will now have a much faster broadband connection to the global system of research networks through NeteraNet. (Netera Alliance News Release)
Web-Based Muni Training Goes Bilingual
IQALUIT, NU -- It's hard to find bilingual instructors for all of the 10 courses that make up the Municipal Government Certificate Program, but the Municipal Training Organization's new web site offers service in both English and Inuktitut to hamlet workers. (Nunatsiaq News)
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