Municipal Alberta
Water Crucial To Prosperity
CALGARY -- Understanding the critical role of water conservation in ensuring Alberta's long-term economic prosperity is the subject of a new Canada West Foundation report. (Canada West Foundation - News Release)
Province Funds Training
EDMONTON -- Local emergency personnel and ground search and rescue volunteers will receive an additional $400G in grants for such training opportunities as mock disaster exercises, participation in workshops, and courses on emergency management. (Government of Alberta - News Release)
$20M For Housing
EDMONTON -- Approximately $19.6 million in federal and provincial funds will help create 432 affordable housing units in Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Stony Plain and Villeneuve under the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program. (Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program)
Smoking Ban Municipal Job: Preem
EDMONTON -- Premier Ralph Klein killed the idea of an Alberta-wide smoking ban in workplaces, saying the decision should be left to municipalities. (Edmonton Journal)
Red Flag Raised
PINCHER CREEK -- The town's decision to cut the parks and recreation budget by 10 percent in 2005 has raised a red flag for a local economic development body. (Pincher Creek Echo)
Annexation Nearing Approval
HIGH RIVER -- Foothills residents anxious for Calgary to annex their land may not have to wait much longer as the proposal put forward by the two municipalities is set to go before the provincial approval board. (Western Wheel)
EcDev Officer Hired
HIGH RIVER -- Scott Kovatch will step into High River's eagerly anticipated economic development officer position. (High River Times)
Election Inspection Continues
CALGARY -- The terms of reference for the provincial inspection into Calgary's Ward 10 election process have now been set. (Government of Alberta - News Release)
Low Flow The Way To Go?
CALGARY -- Calgary city council will vote on a motion to slow the flow of water in all new homes and businesses. (Calgary Herald - canada.com network)
Emerg Services Battle
AIRDRIE -- The City of Airdrie is continuing its battle to preserve Airdrie Emergency Services (AES) as an integrated fire and emergency medical service unique to its community. (Airdrie Echo)
MP Seeks Town's Help
STRATHMORE -- Crowfoot MP Kevin Sorenson is asking the Town of Strathmore for assistance in urging the federal government to redefine navigable waterways. (Strathmore Standard)
Paid Parking Push
RED DEER -- Councillor Lorna Watkinson-Zimmer owns a business downtown and believes it's time to bring back paid parking. (Red Deer Advocate)
Counties Collaborate
SYLVAN LAKE -- Lacombe County and Red Deer County will work together on the Joint West Sylvan Lake Area Structure Plan, which is expected to take about four months to complete and will involve public input. (Red Deer Advocate)
Competition For Contract
BLACKFALDS -- The Town of Blackfalds renewed an emergency dispatch service contract with the Town of Lacombe, but only after taking a close look at the competition in Red Deer. (Lacombe Globe)
Affordable Housing Supported
LACOMBE -- The Town of Lacombe will give $50G to a $3.6M project that would see a 24-unit affordable housing structure. (Lacombe Globe)
CAO Scores Designation
THORSBY -- Village CAO Martin Taylor has been awarded the prestigious designation of "Certified Municipal Clerk" (CMC) from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) for achieving its high educational, experience and service requirements. (IIMC release hosted on MuniMall)
AUMA In Software Rollout
EDMONTON -- Alberta municipalities will soon have access to a comprehensive software package to manage common tasks such as human resources and payroll, taxation, utilities, licenses, permits and bylaw enforcement. (Government of Alberta - News Release)
. . . But Not Everyone Happy
MILLET -- The AUMA is sharing, but not in the way other municipalities are happy with. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser)
Annexation Talks On Again
ST. ALBERT -- As St. Albert and Sturgeon County reopen negotiations on a hefty 1,337-hectare annexation, former mayor Richard Plain is once again warning city council not to fall into a revenue-sharing trap. (stalbertgazette.com)
Reorganization Announced
SHERWOOD PARK -- Departments in two of Strathcona County's three divisions will be reorganized. (Strathcona County - News Release)
New Org for Muni Communications Pros
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- The recently formed Northern Alberta Municipal Communicators provides a networking and professional development forum for municipal communicators. For more info or to join, contact Jocelyne Desjardins 780-968-8432, or jdesjardins@parklandcounty.com. PDF file. (Northern Alberta Municipal Communicators Release hosted on MuniMall)
Crooks Need Not Apply
CAMROSE -- Those applying to sit on boards and committees offered through the city will be asked to provide a criminal record check, but at no cost to the applicant. (Camrose Canadian)
GPS Keeps Planning On Track
LLOYDMINSTER -- A new global positioning system (GPS) will help the intermunicipal planning group made up of the city of Lloydminster and the County of Vermilion River with its long term planning. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
Municipally Excellent Practices: Red Tape Review
GRANDE PRAIRIE --The city of Grande Prairie undertook a review of all council policies and staff procedures with the intent of eliminating "administrivia". Another innovative practice just posted on MENet, Alberta's Municipal Excellence Network. (MENet.ab.ca)
Template A Gas!
COLD LAKE -- ATCO Gas and AltaGas recently completed negotiations with the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) regarding the development of a "template" natural gas franchise agreement. (Cold Lake Sun)
Council Supports Native Land Claim
GRANDE CACHE -- The future of Grande Cache's aboriginal people will be determined in a courtroom, town council was told. (Grande Cache News)
Easy Or Cheap
COLD LAKE -- Stuck between cost savings vs. easier management, the City of Cold Lake finally opted for the latter in awarding a residential garbage contract. (Cold Lake Sun)
Guilty
SANGUDO -- After a 5 day trial, Lac Ste. Anne County has been found guilty of improper disposal of waste. (Mayerthorpe Freelancer)
Rezoning Gets Nod
ST. PAUL -- Residents of Lac Sante could have some new neighbours in the future after the county approved a change to its land use bylaw. Second story down on left. (St. Paul Journal)
Landfill On Target
FAIRVIEW -- The new North Peace Regional Landfill has received approximately 18,750 tons of residential, commercial and industrial waste since opening, according to manager Darren Lubeck. (Fairview Post)
Citizens Grill Council
MANNVILLE -- A citizens' delegation to Mannville Village council had several concerns, especially about termination of the local golf course manager and the decision to hire Nichols Applied Management to assess the CAO position. (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 anything new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 10,000 local government readers from coast to coast.
Municipal Saskatchewan
Pricey Settlement Sought
SASKATOON -- The family of Neil Stonechild is asking for a six-figure settlement from the Saskatoon police force to compensate for his 1990 death, and the way police handled the investigation. (CBC News)
SUMA, SARM Oppose Legislation
REGINA -- Concerned over the ability of urban municipalities to effectively provide local public services, SARM and SUMA are jointly calling on the provincial government to abandon the proposed Hours of Work regulations. Microsoft Word file. (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association - News Release)
Property Tax Relief
REGINA -- the Government of Saskatchewan says all owners of Saskatchewan property will see a tax credit on their property tax notices issued in 2005 and 2006. (Yorkton News Extra)
Pipe Dream
LLOYDMINSTER -- The possibility of the entire city going non-smoking may be nothing more than a pipe dream for some Saskatchewan-side businesses, say city officials. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
Road Of Contention
WEYBURN -- The Department of Highways has been pressuring the RM of Weyburn to take ownership of the Weyburn airport road, but RM councillors insist the province must first narrow and repair the road, as well as pay maintenance upfront. (Weyburn Review)
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 anything new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 10,000 local government readers from coast to coast.
Municipal Manitoba
Floodway Plan Flawed
SELKIRK -- Reeves from the RMs of East St. Paul, West St. Paul, Springfield, St. Andrews, St. Clements and the City of Selkirk's deputy mayor were on hand when an Ontario microbiologist dropped a bombshell on the environmental licensing process for the Floodway expansion project. (Lac du Bonnet Leader)
City, RM Outline Payment Plans
DAUPHIN -- The big question at the City and RM Parkland Recreation Complex Phase 2 hearings was how the municipalities were going to pay for their share of the cost. (Dauphin Herald)
Rural Funding Flowing
BRANDON -- The expansion of the Keystone Centre in Brandon will provide a new multi-functional facility that will include an Agricultural Centre of Excellence with $15 million in funding from the new Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF). (Government of Manitoba - News Release)
Fire Services Dispute
GIMLI -- Hundreds of RM of Gimli residents in Sandy Hook are caught in the middle of an inter-municipal dispute over the annual cost of a fire services agreement. (Interlake Spectator)
911 Snafu
WOODLANDS -- A RM of Woodlands woman called 911 only to hear a recorded message telling her she can't use the service. (Stonewall Argus and Teulon Times)
Annexation Approved
MORDEN -- Morden grew by about 900 acres on Jan. 1, swallowing land from the RM of Stanley. (Morden Times)
Getting Snowed
WINNIPEG -- Residents on an Elmwood street are angry after learning they might be stuck footing the bill for damages inflicted on their vehicles by a City of Winnipeg snowplow. (Canstar Community News Limited)
Emerg MOU Proposed
CARMAN -- Town of Carman and Rural Municipality of Dufferin want to be able to turn to City of Portage la Prairie in a time of emergency. (Portage La Prairie Daily Graphic)
Win-Win On Recycling
WINKER -- Changes to the city's recycling program will be a win-win situation for everyone, says public works director Bill Zacharias. (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.
Contribute to MuniMall
Does your municipality have anything new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 10,000 local government readers from coast to coast.
Municipal North
$32M For Infrastructure
WHITEHORSE, YK -- The Governments of Canada and Yukon will jointly invest $32 million in municipal rural infrastructure projects over the next 4 years. (Government of Yukon - News Release)
Waterfront Funding Floats In
WHITEHORSE, YK -- The Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon will be investing $22M for improvements to the Whitehorse and Carcross waterfronts. (Government of Yukon - News Release)
Seniors Bash Budget
WHITEHORSE, YK -- City council's budget proposal to cut the seniors' annual utility grant is akin to death by a thousand cuts, says the president of the Yukon Council on Aging. (Whitehorse Star Online)
Homeowners Diss Council, Staff
IQALUIT, NU -- More than 40 homeowners frustrated with recent council decisions gathered to discuss how they can have more influence over their elected officials. (Nunatsiaq News)
Police Force Expanding
IQALUIT, NU -- Iqaluit RCMP plan to boost their ranks during holidays after what one officer called "a rockin' New Year's Eve." (Nunatsiaq News)
$32M in Municipal Rural Infrastructure
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- Agreements announced by the governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories will inject a total of $122 million into community and transportation infrastructure projects across the territory. (Government of Northwest Territories Press Release)
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 anything new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 10,000 local government readers from coast to coast.
Municipal Ontario
Utility Sale Terms Approved
CHATHAM -- While the final deal won't be done until late March, the basic terms on the sale of the Middlesex Power Distribution Corporation were approved by Strathroy-Caradoc Council. (Strathroy Age Dispatch)
Real Jail Time Wanted
WALKERTON -- Former Walkerton PUC manager Stan Koebel should serve "real jail time", Regional Crown Attorney David Foulds told the Superior Court of Justice. (walkerton.com - Herald-Times)
Red Meat Ranting
WALKERTON -- Brockton council wants the federal government to close the border to all imported red meats. (walkerton.com - Herald-Times)
Investment Pays Dividends
MITCHELL --The municipality of West Perth has seen a $60G return on its investment in West Perth Power Inc. (Mitchell Advocate)
Gas Tax Dollars Derailed
HAMILTON -- A substantial portion of provincial gas tax monies may not be used to improve transit in Hamilton, despite the apparent intentions of the McGuinty government. (Citizens at City Hall - CATCH)
Feelers Out For Fast Ferry
SIMCOE -- Norfolk County councillors approved a request to officially seek private sector corporations who are seriously interested in developing a fast ferry terminal in Port Dover. (InPortDover.com)
Staff Member Named To Board
BRAMPTON -- Cheryl Jamieson, a public education officer for the City of Brampton is the newest member of the Peel Police Services Board. (Brampton Guardian)
Getting Tough On Drive-Throughs
MISSISSAUGA -- After several years of study and reports, the City of Mississauga has come up with a tough set of regulations governing the design of future drive-through restaurants and convenience kiosks. (Mississauga News Online)
Homeless Crackdown Pitched
TORONTO -- Councillor Norm Kelly has waded into Toronto's homeless controversy with a plan that calls for authorities to forcibly remove vagrants from the streets if they refuse opportunities to take shelter. (Toronto Sun)
Longer Term Wanted
BOWMANVILLE -- The Municipality of Clarington is looking for support to petition the government of Ontario to change municipal council terms from three years to four years. (Simcoe.com)
Divorce Demanded
LINDSAY -- Kawartha Lakes is demanding Queen's Park honour the results of the 2003 deamalgamation vote, where 51% of those who cast ballots asked to go back to a two-tiered system of municipal governance. (Osprey Media Group - Lindsay Daily Post)
De-Amalgamation Flame Still Burning
HAMILTON -- While members of the Committee to Free Flamborough (CFF) admit they've been "low-key" in recent months, they stress that de-amalgamation sentiment has not disappeared. (Flamborough Review)
Bylaw Imbroglio
COBOURG -- Councillor Lloyd Williams's integrity was attacked as fellow councillors voted down his recommendation that Cobourg hire part-time bylaw enforcement officers instead of contracting out the service. (Osprey Media Group - Northumberland Today)
AMO Bill Arrives As City Eyes Split
LINDSAY -- The city will have to pony up more than $9,000 to continue its membership in the AMO this year, but one committee is recommending a pullout instead. (Osprey Media Group - Lindsay Daily Post)
Former Chief Awarded Severance
TRENTON -- Former Quinte West deputy police chief Bill Lafosse was awarded $95,132 by an arbitrator for financial losses sustained when the local service was replaced by the OPP last April. (Osprey Media Group - Trenton Trentonian)
Beefing Up Security
KINGSTON -- Public access to City Hall is being questioned by staff after a series of confrontations between staff and disruptive visitors. (Osprey Media Group - Kingston Whig-Standard)
CAO Mourned
KINGSTON -- The City of Kingston held a public memorial for Chief Administrative Officer Bert Meunier, who served more than a decade as the city's top administrator. (Osprey Media Group - Kingston This Week)
Conflict Of Interest Alleged
CORNWALL -- Some members of Council have suggested that Mayor Poirier has a conflict of interest in any matter involving the City of Cornwall and the building of the new ethanol plant involving the Seaway Valley Farmers Energy Co-operative Inc. (Cornwall Seaway News)
Archives Move Takes Heat
OTTAWA -- The city archives will likely celebrate Ottawa's 150th anniversary in a new location that doesn't seem to make anyone happy. (Ottawa Sun Online)
Best Practices Study
DEEP RIVER -- Deep River council has given its tentative approval for the town to take part in a study of "best practices" in downtown revitalization, along with Smith Falls, Pembroke, Prince Edward County and Peterborough. (North Renfrew Times)
Water Contract Terminated
BURK'S FALLS -- The Village of Burk's Falls has notified the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) that it is terminating its agreement. (Almaquin News)
Administrators Cleared
MIDHURST --The County of Simcoe's two highest-ranking employees have been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing after a 5 week police investigation. (Osprey Media Group - Midland Free Press)
City Blasted Over Recount
SUDBURY --The City of Greater Sudbury spent nearly $50G of taxpayers' money to avoid an election recount that would have cost only $20G and likely would have benefited the municipality, a Superior Court judge says. (Osprey Media Group - Sudbury Star)
Costly Restructuring
SUDBURY -- The City of Greater Sudbury's senior management restructuring may have cost as much as $1 million, with much of that sum paid to three departing managers. (Osprey Media Group - Sudbury Star)
More Restructuring Coming
SUDBURY -- A just-released restructuring report appears to suggest that mid-level managers and administrative staff -- mainly non-unionized positions -- will take the brunt of the next round of cuts. (NorthernLife.ca)
MPAC Detractors Growing
KIRKLAND LAKE -- The Town of Kirkland Lake has added itself to the list of over 170 Ontario municipalities that want to overhaul the province's property tax assessment system. (Osprey Media Group - Northern News)
$1.6M For Infrastructure
TIMMINS -- Mayor Vic Power was all smiles after federal and provincial ministers announced $1.6-million in funding for the city's water-plant. (Osprey Media Group - Timmins Daily Press)
Department Review Sought
THUNDER BAY -- The City of Thunder Bay's community services department is too big and needs to be reviewed, a city councillor says. (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 anything new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 10,000 local government readers from coast to coast.
Municipal Atlantic
Games Host Named
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- Kings County will play host to the 2005 Provincial Winter Games. (Prince Edward Island - News Release)
Town Wants Property Back
MONTAGUE, PE -- Montague's waterfront committee is again trying to obtain Irving Oil's property on the town's waterfront, less than two years after Irving turned the town down. (PEICanada.com)
Hunting Killed
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- Hunters in Prince Edward Island's capital will have to find a new place to bag waterfowl after city council voted to ban hunting inside city limits. (CBC News)
New Act Affects Municipalities
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPPA), came into effect January 17; approximately 460 public bodies are subject to ATIPPA, including municipalities. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador - News Release)
Regional Plan Under Review
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, announced that he has asked for input from Northeast Avalon municipalities in a wide-scale review of the St. John's Urban Region Regional Plan. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador - News Release)
Funding Requests Denied
SPRINGDALE, NL -- Springdale town council is tired of negative answers on funding requests for its major tourism development plans and is asking Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency representatives for answers. (nor'wester)
Same-Sex Marriage Split
CLARENVILLE, NL -- Mayor Fred Best will perform same-sex marriage ceremonies but, like many other municipal leaders, says he does not take the issue lightly. (The Packet)
Curbside Recycling Announced
CORNER BROOK, NL --The Minister of Environment and Conservation, Tom Osborne, and the Mayor of Corner Brook, Priscilla Boutcher, announced a new curbside recycling program for the City of Corner Brook. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador - News Release)
Staff Changes Coming
FREDERICTON, NB -- The City of Fredericton will be making several staffing and organizational changes during the first quarter of 2005. (City of Fredericton - News Release)
$183G For Tourism
RICHIBUCTO, NB --The Town of Richibucto is getting a new Visitor Facility and Interpretation Centre and it was announced that the ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) will be investing $183G into the $358G project. (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency - News Release)
Music To City's Ears
HALIFAX, NS -- The Juno Awards will continue their road trip next year with a jaunt to Halifax. (canadaeast.com - CP Atlantic Regional News)
Cooperating On Waste
CLARK'S HARBOUR, NS -- The Town of Clark's Harbour has approved in principle entering into a 20-year waste disposal contract with Queens Regional Municipality. (CoastGuard)
New Smoke Eater Chief
PICTOU, NS -- Pictou's new fire chief Steven MacKenzie says his work is cut out for him. (Transcontinental Newsnet)
Heritage Funded
CLARE, NS -- ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) investment announcements in Argyle and Clare are designed to support community archival and heritage preservation and enhance tourism potential at the same time. (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.
Contribute to MuniMall
Does your municipality have anything new and noteworthy to publicize? Send your release to MuniMall, and reach over 10,000 local government readers from coast to coast.
Current Events
The Next 30 Days:
-
SUMA's 100th Convention: Bridging to Our Future
-- Saskatoon, SK Jan. 29-Feb. 2, 2005.
-
Rural Ontario Municipal Association/Ontario Good Roads Association Combined Conferences
-- Toronto, ON February 20-23, 2005.
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
Town Funds Broadband
GEORGINA, ON - Council agreed to provide matching funding of $75,000 to South Shore Community Broadband to launch a high-speed wireless Internet service for all parts of Georgina. (yorkregion.com)
West Not Wired
COCHRANE, AB -- The vision was always a strong and exciting one, but over a challenging three years no one has been able to build that vision into reality, and so the Town of Cochrane's Wired West portal project has been scrubbed. (Cochrane Times)
This email was not sent without asking your prior permission. Please follow this link to subscribe or unsubscribe. All subscriptions are free.
The MuniMall
Newsletter is published biweekly via email from
Government Studies at the University of Alberta.
Comments, concerns, suggestions, submissions? Email MuniMall Editor John Sinclair at
john.sinclair@ualberta.ca or call John at 780-492-2783.
MuniMall respects your privacy. We use redirects and pixels in the Newsletter to better understand the likes and dislikes of our readers and to create a better product in the future. For more information, please see our Privacy Statement.
Copyright © 2005 University of Alberta
