Municipal Alberta
Ex and Current Mayors Spar
MORINVILLE -- The former mayor tried to shout down the current mayor as Sturgeon County council debated expansion of a grain terminal. (St. Albert Gazette)
Work Camp A Go
MAYERTHORPE -- Mayerthorpe's mayor and the developer of a controversial work camp attempted to ease the fears of angry town residents at a heated meeting Tuesday night. (Edmonton Journal)
Thai Partner Project Safe
EDSON -- Town employees don't believe the work they did with a partner city in Thailand will be affected by a recent coup d'etat. (Edson Leader)
Out Of Hinton
HINTON -- A town councillor may resign to participate in a volunteer mission to Uganda. (Hinton Parklander)
Hinton Blooms
HINTON -- The community earned four blooms and an honourable mention for local involvement in the Communities in Bloom provincial competition in Vegreville. (Town of Hinton release hosted on MuniMall)
New Servicing Researched
VERMILION -- The city will review areas within the municipal boundaries to determine suitability for residential development and the cost of servicing the land. (Vermilion Standard)
Overpass Passed Over
EDMONTON -- A new overpass meant to fix traffic congestion in South Edmonton Common could be downgraded to a road widening because of soaring construction costs. (CBC Edmonton)
Mail-in Ballots Accepted
EDMONTON -- Snowbirds and soldiers stationed overseas will be able to cast ballots for the first time in the next city election. (Edmonton Sun)
Bond Rating Upgraded
EDMONTON -- Standard and Poors raised the city's bond rating from AA+ Stable to AA+ Positive. (City of Edmonton release)
Think, Act Like A Region
EDMONTON -- The Alberta Capital Region Alliance (ACRA), in partnership with the University of Alberta City-Region Studies Centre (CRSC), invite your participation in an innovative workshop entitled "Learning to Think and Act Like a Region". (ACRA-CRSC release hosted on MuniMall)
Vietnam Delegation Visits
SHERWOOD PARK -- A delegation from Vietnam wrapped up a visit to Strathcona County and commented on the professional and friendly municipal staff. (Strathcona County Press Release)
Pumphouse Purchased
THORSBY -- A pumphouse and 12 miles of waterline were purchased from Imperial Oil to supply the village with water. (Village of Thorsby Press Release)
Defibrillators Installed
DRAYTON VALLEY -- Automated external defibrillators were installed in the Omniplex in the wake of the death of 15-year-old hockey player who collapsed on ice. (Drayton Valley Western Review)
Labour Shortage Stalls Development
LEDUC -- Like any other business in the city, the labour shortage has affected the Willow Park development headed by the City of Leduc and has set it back by a month. (Leduc Representative)
Whistle Cessation Possible
PONOKA -- The town has installed fences and warning signs along the CPR railway line and now wants to take the next step to mute whistles at crossings. (Ponoka News)
Population Projections Upgraded
RED DEER -- The city updated its population projections as a result of continued strong economic growth. (City of Red Deer release)
Debt Hikes Taxes 8%
RED DEER -- City council has cleared the way to borrow $80.3M for the proposed civic yards project -- a loan that could require a tax hike of nearly 8%. (Red Deer Advocate)
May Dump Advisory Committees
RED DEER -- The city may change the way it receives public input by dumping advisory committees that focus on policy and moving to an ad hoc system. (Red Deer Advocate)
Muni Cooperation Urged
INNISFAIL -- The town will urge AUMA to press the province for mandatory intermunicipal development plans. (Red Deer Advocate)
A Road By Any Other Name
SUNDRE -- Town councillor Jim Brosh has decided not to put forward a proposed motion that would have changed the name of 2nd Avenue North to Community Way. (Sundre Round Up)
Mayor Quits In Dispute
DRUMHELLER -- Mayor Paul Ainscough resigned his seat when town council took no action to fire bylaw enforcement officers. (Drumheller Mail)
Conflicts Trim Council
BANFF -- A key decision on revisions to the Banff Design Guidelines was made by a vastly thinned town council after 3 councillors abstained from voting because of conflict of interest concerns. (Banff Crag and Canyon)
Low Impact Development Conference
COCHRANE A conference running Oct. 18-20 will bring together municipalities, researchers, water users, engineers, managers and policy analysts, and provide an understanding of low impact development concepts and real life initiatives. (Cochrane Environmental Action Committee)
Annexation Not Wanted
CALGARY -- Applause broke out when a Bearspaw resident spoke in opposition to proposed annexation. (Airdrie Echo)
Huge Development Begins
CALGARY -- As a small army of earthmovers gouged the soil nearby, local dignitaries christened the largest suburban redevelopment of its kind on the continent. (Calgary Sun)
Special Cops Join Forces
OKOTOKS -- An agreement involving special constables with the towns of Turner Valley, Black Diamond and Longview may soon be gaining a fourth member. (Western Wheel)
Council's Pay Hiked
HIGH RIVER -- Mayor and council will receive large pay raise in the next term of council. (High River Times)
Lots Sold Out
NANTON -- In light of an imminent 15% hike in the price, buyers scooped up building lots the town put up for sale. (Nanton News)
Southeast EDA Tops
MEDICINE HAT -- The Economic Development Alliance (EDA) of Southeast Alberta has won an award from the Economic Developers Association of Canada for its 2005/06 Southeast Alberta Oil and Gas Goods and Services Directory. (Medicine Hat News)
Municipal Excellence: The Hat Wins For Innovation
MEDICINE HAT -- Helping to protect residents during a flood using innovative software linked to the GIS system has earned the city the Minister's Award for Municipal Excellence. (City of Medicine Hat release hosted on MuniMall)
Municipal Excellence: Wetaskiwin Implements Annual Reports
WETASKIWIN -- The county turned its annual financial statement into a full blown annual report in 1998 and it has grown into a 48-page document that lets everyone know just about everything they would like to know about county activities over the year and is distributed to every ratepayer in the municipality. Another cool practice recently posted on MENet, Alberta¹s Municipal Excellence Network. (www.menet.ba.ca)
Town Lawyer Railroads Bylaw
BLAIRMORE -- On the advice of its lawyer, council repealed a bylaw to require CPR to get local approval to build a siding. (Crowsnest Pass Promoter)
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
Gravely Appalled
LLOYDMINSTER -- On a visit to the Marshall Cemetery, Barbara Turner was appalled to find her parents' final resting place running rampant with slithering pests. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
Access To Info Feted
REGINA -- An award was presented to the City of Regina for its good record in providing public access to information. (Regina Leader Post)
Bylaw Bans Violence
PRINCE ALBERT -- The city proclaimed a bylaw against violence and offenders could be fined up to $700. (CBC Saskatchewan)
Air Service Launched
MEADOW LAKE -- Twice-weekly air service now links Meadow Lake with Saskatoon and Fort McMurray. (Meadow Advantage Press Release hosted on Munimall)
Double Deluge
PORCUPINE PLAIN -- Heavy rain has damaged an area in the northeast Saskatchewan grainbelt that's still recovering from spring floods. (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.
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Municipal Manitoba
First On Scene
OAKBANK -- Firefighters will shave minutes off medical response under a new program that allows on-call personnel to respond directly to a scene instead of heading to the hall first. (Beausejour Review)
Women Left Out
DUNNOTTAR -- The language of council business is too narrowly focused on 'he' and 'him', leaving 'she' and 'her' out in the cold, says the only female member of council. (Interlake Spectator)
Info Withheld
SELKIRK -- Some councillors allege the mayor and senior staff are keeping the rest of council in the dark. (Selkirk Journal)
CAO Takes Leave Amid Turmoil
CLANDEBOYE -- CAO Scott Spicer has gone on medical leave amid allegations of an unhealthy office atmosphere and concerns over the way the RM is being run. (Selkirk Journal)
Parking Lot Hot Potato
WINNIPEG -- A parking lot became a hot potato in the city's civic election, with some councillors and two mayoral candidates arguing that the business interests of incumbent mayor Sam Katz should be put in a blind trust. (CBC Winnipeg)
Road Money Quadrupled
WINNIPEG -- The city will receive an additional $50M in provincial funding over the next two years for road-improvement projects, which will quadruple provincial funding for city streets and provide additional funding for bicycle routes. (Government of Manitoba Press Release)
Liquor Votes On Tap
Towns that do not serve liquor could be a thing of the past in Manitoba, depending on the outcomes of referendums in two southern communities in the so-called Bible Belt. (CBC Manitoba)
Returns To Roots
BRANDON -- Jim McCrae, who was a Manitoba cabinet minister for 11 years, says he is returning to his roots by running for Brandon council -- in the same ward where he first entered politics in 1983. (CBC Manitoba)
Drain Money Coming
WINNIPEG -- The province is spending over $4M on 29 drainage projects across the province to help improve drainage and agricultural production, Water Stewardship Minister Steve Ashton announced. (Government of Manitoba Press Release)
Non-Compliant Assessor Fired
WINNIPEG -- Election candidates called for an investigation -- and whistleblower legislation for city workers -- after the city fired one of its assessors for refusing to support tax information he didn't agree with while testifying at a Municipal Board hearing. (CBC Manitoba)
How To Hire A CAO
WINNINPEG -- The Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade has developed a guide on hiring chief administrative officers, now available on the web. (Government of Manitoba Publication)
Highway A 'Disaster'
WINNIPEG -- The Frontier Centre for Public Policy says the city's Perimeter Highway is a "Disaster by Design" and should be upgraded to freeway standards. (Frontier Centre for Public Policy Publication)
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
Toxins Found In Water
CHAMPAGNE, YK -- New tests have turned up traces of antifreeze, paint thinners and preservatives in the water of the small Yukon village of Champagne. (CBC North)
Cops Protest Chief's Firing
KUUJJUAQ, NU -- With their sirens wailing and horns honking, members of the Kativik Regional Police Force planned to parade past municipal and regional government offices in Nunavik to protest the firing of their chief of police. (Nunatsiaq News)
Candidate Found Dead
IQALUIT, NU -- What could have been one of the most bizarre city council election campaigns in recent memory came to a sudden halt this week, when the lifeless body of Oopeetee Atagooyuk, 51, was found outside his shack in the Iqaluit beach area. (Nunatsiaq News)
Sewer Fix For Water Licence
IQALUIT, NU -- The city has been handed a new water licence that will require sewage plant upgrades in five years, expected to cost at least $10M. (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
County overturns pay advice
AMHERSTBURG -- The county warden will get a raise after councillors overturned a recommendation of a remuneration advisory committee. (Amherstburg Echo)
Rogers Not Returning Call
SIMCOE -- Coun. Charlie Luke says he's tired of waiting for an answer from Rogers Wireless over the relocation of a controversial cell tower. (Brantford Expositor)
Ex-Planner To Run
PARIS -- A former county planner is running for election. (Brantford Expositor)
City Sides With Residents
BRANTFORD -- The city will defend its decision with the OMB to side with residents in rejecting a condominium proposal. (Brantford Expositor)
CAO OK with Con
PORT COLBORNE -- CAO Robert Cotterill has heard an explanation on Kelly M. Skalin's past from the men behind Nyon Energy Corp., and feels comfortable continuing to pursue the deal. (Niagara This Week)
Transit Service Doubled
FORT ERIE -- With a second bus added to the route, transit service will double as a result of increased gas tax funding. (Fort Erie Times)
Memorials Upset Neighbours
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE -- As a town task force wrestles with making local roads safer, the town is considering limiting roadside memorials that may be both a safety hazard and upsetting to neighbours. (Niagara Advance)
Hockey Deal On Thin Ice
NIAGARA FALLS -- A deal to bring junior A hockey to Niagara Falls is still a possibility, but it will require JDS Delcor to reconsider the revenue it wants from the city. (Niagara Falls Review)
Salty Talk
WELLAND -- A town councillor used the F-word in council while school children and sea cadets were in attendance. (Niagara Falls Review)
City Fails Info Test
ST. CATHARINES -- The city failed an informal information audit conducted by the Canadian Newspapers Association. (St. Catharines Standard)
Mail-In Ballots Only
GRIMSBY -- There will be no polling stations for the municipal election. All ballots will be submitted by mail. (St. Catharines Standard)
Pipeline Not Dead
GUELPH -- A local group that has mounted a sign campaign against a water pipeline to Lake Erie isn't taking much comfort from a new city hall report that favours excluding a pipeline option for the time being. (Guelph Tribune)
Branding Earns Award
CALEDON -- The town's economic development initiative to develop a recognizable brand earned an award from the Economic Developers Association of Canada. (Town of Caledon release hosted on MuniMall)
T.O. Trash To London
TORONTO -- Mayor David Miller announced the city plans to buy a landfill site near London in a move to keep the city's trash troubles from piling up. (CBC Toronto)
Wants Deal Trashed
LONDON -- After meeting with the provincial environment minister yesterday, the mayors of London and St. Thomas say they've given up hope Ontario will quash Toronto's deal to buy the Green Lane Landfill. (London Free Press)
Dump Consequences Unknown
DURHAM -- It is too early to determine the impact Toronto's purchase of a landfill will have on Durham Region, officials say. (durhamregion.com)
COMRIF Funds Padded
TORONTO -- A $75M addition to rural infrastructure funding was announced in addition to $110M for the agri-food industry. (Government of Ontario release)
Merrily Down The Stream
TORONTO -- Municipal inspectors have discovered that misconnected pipes are directing raw sewage from Toronto toilets directly into nearby creeks that stream into Lake Ontario. (CBC Toronto)
OMB Fight Costs $700G
AJAX -- Fighting to keep hundreds of acres of land for employment purposes has cost the Town more than $700G and that total is expected to rise. (Durhamregion.com)
Fleas Stop Mail
OSHAWA -- Mail was delivered to a south Oshawa neighbourhood for the first time in over a week Monday, after service was cut off following an unusual flea bite incident. (Durhamregion.com)
Airing Aurora's Laundry
AURORA -- Aurora council will try to convince the province that it's OK to use a clothesline, even in nice neighbourhoods. (Yorkregion.com)
Subway Deal 'Crumbs'
GEORGINA -- Mayor Rob Grossi blasted a regional council decision to approve $265M in funding for a new Spadina subway link to Vaughan, charging Georgina residents are being left with "crumbs". (Yorkregion.com)
Tornado Clean Up Underway
BARRY'S BAY -- Brush left behind after a tornado touched down will be ground into chips for the next four weeks whether or not relief money comes in from the province. (Barry's Bay This Week)
A Dash Of Rapport
BELLEVILLE ‹ The secret ingredient to entice the Kellogg Company to open a plant was rapport. (Belleville Intelligencer)
Wasn't That A Party
KINGSTON -- The police service board will ask Queen's University to help pay the $350G cost to control the annual homecoming party. (Kingston This Week)
Smoking Crack Down
SMITH'S FALLS -- A smoldering complaint finally came to a head when the operator of a smoker's club was charged with obstruction and smoking in an enclosed public place. (Kingston Whig-Standard)
Ambulances Convert To Hydrogen
CORNWALL -- The entire fleet of ambulances will be outfitted with hydrogen injection systems. (Cornwall Standard Freeholder)
On Watch For Arsonist
WINCHESTER -- North Dundas Mayor Alvin Runnalls said township officials plan to look into a Neighbourhood Watch program to help stop the Winchester arsonist. (Cornwall Standard Freeholder)
Equal Say
CORNWALL -- North Stormont Township now has the same clout as the other townships at the county council table. (Cornwall Standard Freeholder)
Dump Decision Recycled
BARRIE -- Simcoe County council has delayed taking action on a controversial landfill proposed for Tiny Township, a move that has irked the community¹s mayor. (Barrie Examiner)
City Eyes Tree Bylaw
ORILLIA -- A bylaw preventing developers in Orillia from razing large properties of trees without city approval could become a reality. (Orillia Packet and Times)
One-Tier Enough
ORILLIA -- Orillia council is rejecting a proposal for two-tier governance that officials say would hamper efficiency, weaken accountability and thicken red tape. (Orillia Packet and Times)
Gasoline Alley Gassed
COLLINGWOOD -- Council implemented a bylaw to control gasoline alley-type development in the west-end entry to the town. (Enterprise Bulletin)
Secret Severance Questioned
WIARTON -- Frustrations over a non-disclosure agreement over the resignation of the fire chief came to the fore at a South Bruce Peninsula council meeting. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
3rd-Party Attack Ads
MEAFORD -- A Toronto business man purchased large newspaper ads attacking the mayor and decisions of council. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
Development Charges Considered
NORTH BAY -- The city is considering a $2,200 development charge for residential lots to cover the costs of stormwater management requirements. (North Bay Nugget)
Councillor Convicted
NOELVILLE -- French River town councillor Sylvia Tomlinson has resigned her Ward 2 seat after pleading guilty in Sudbury court to a charge of uttering a forged document, laid in connection with the municipality's election in 2003. (Sudbury Star)
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 Québec
Munis Need Voice
SHERBROOKE -- Cities and towns should have a voice in talks between Ottawa and the provinces on solving the fiscal imbalance, says Quebec's Union of Municipalities. (CBC Ottawa)
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Municipal Atlantic
Elms Survive Epidemic
MONCTON, NB-- The city's arborist has discovered survivors of the city's Dutch elm disease epidemic, and is now working to protect what's left of the majestic trees. (CBC New Brunswick)
Wind Energy Deal
SUMMERSIDE, PE -- Summerside Electric has entered into an agreement with Ventus Energy Inc. to purchase renewable energy from a 99 MW wind farm that will be built in two phases at West Cape. (City of Summerside release)
5-Year Labour Deal
SUMMERSIDE, PE -- Permanent employees of the City of Summerside reached an agreement on a new 5-year deal with the city. (CBC PEI)
So, Sue Me
St. JOHN'S, NL -- St. John's Mayor Andy Wells says he's prepared to face lawsuits over a city crackdown on aggressive dogs, urging staff to "put the damn dog down" if it seems dangerous. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Dry Summer, Low Water
ANTIGONISH, NS -- With a dry summer behind them, Antigonish residents are now being asked to stop washing their cars and watering their lawns. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Hopes LNG Project Lives
PORT HAWKESBURY, NS -- The warden of Richmond County says he's hopeful a liquefied natural gas plant near Port Hawkesbury will go ahead, despite the lack of a pipeline. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Clean Water For Christmas
ORANGEDALE, NS -- If all goes according to plan, residents can expect to turn on their taps and get clean water by December. (CBC Nova Scotia)
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. The List of New Brunswick Municipalities provides contact info for cities, towns, and villages in that province, as well as the names of elected officials.
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