Municipal Alberta
City Seeks Royalties
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- The city made a submission to the province's review on petroleum royalties calling for a portion to go to municipalities to help meet infrastructure demands that oil patch growth creates. (Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune)
Green Space Tops Quality List
ST. ALBERT -- Green space was most often cited in a residents' poll as the greatest contributor to quality of life -- taxes most detrimental. (St. Albert Gazette)
ACRA Chair Welcomes Plan
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- The new chairman of the Alberta Capital Region Alliance says the government's announcement to develop a growth strategy is welcome. (Fort Saskatchewan Record)
Growth Strategy Welcomed
SHERWOOD PARK -- Strathcona County is pleased the government has assumed a leadership role supporting local autonomy as it begins development of a regional growth management strategy. (Strathcona County)
ACRA Names New Chair
EDMONTON -- Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Jim Sheasgreen was elected chairman of the Alberta Capital Region Alliance. (Alberta Capital Region Alliance)
Land Use Recommendations Presented
EDMONTON -- The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association briefed municipal leaders on its recommendations for land use planning. (Sundre Round Up)
Disaster Funds Approved
EDMONTON -- The province approved $40 million in funding to help municipalities recover from June storms. (Government of Alberta)
Transportation Boss Hired
EDMONTON -- Robert Boutilier left 8a deputy manager's position with the Toronto Transit Commission to become the city's General Manager of Transportation. (City of Edmonton)
2007-08 Class Schedule Is Out!
EDMONTON -- Want to study municipal government with nationally recognized instructors in Canada's premier academic program? Does the convenience of online study from your home or office appeal to you? If so, check out all the details in our brand-new 2007-08 Government Studies Course Guide. Don't delay, popular classes are already filling up! (University of Alberta/Dalhousie University)
Tangible Capital Asset Info Online
EDMONTON -- The latest news and information on the Tangible Capital Assets project are available online though the Municipal Excellence Network. (www.menet.ab.ca)
Pothole Trucks Lessen Labour
EDMONTON -- The city has rented two pothole-filling trucks that can be operated by one person to mend up to 500 holes per day. (Edmonton Journal)
Investigation Request Deferred
LEDUC -- County council deferred for three weeks a councillor's request for a provincial investigation of his accusations. (Leduc Representative)
Water Rates Hiked
WETASKIWIN -- Water rates will be hiked nearly $2 per 100 cubic feet over the next 18 months to pay for upgrades to its water treatment plant. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser)
Housing Designation Added
WETASKIWIN -- The city added the designation of boarding and lodging houses to its zoning classifications. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser)
Transit System Launched
HINTON -- The town's transit system began operation in an 18-month pilot. (Hinton Parklander)
County Manager Hired
PONOKA -- The town manager was hired to assume the top post with Red Deer County. (Red Deer Express)
IDP Given First Reading
RED DEER -- City and county councils gave first reading to an inter-municipal development plan and scheduled public hearings on the matter. (Mountain View Gazette)
City Buys New Land
RED DEER -- The city purchased a quarter section of land to sell for residential lots outside its city limits. (Red Deer Advocate)
City Joins Gas-From-Garbage Study
RED DEER -- The city decided to join the Central Waste Conversion Commission to study the possibility of an energy-from-waste facility. (Red Deer Advocate)
Belated Request Denied
SYLVAN LAKE -- A cheese maker started construction on a new plant without a development permit, ignored a stop-work order and had its belated application denied. (Red Deer Advocate)
Pet Parity Proposed
DIDSBURY -- Cat owners could be faced with a raft of feline regulations on par with those faced by dog owners. (Didsbury Review)
Annexation Bids Made
DIDSBURY -- Two municipalities have taken the first steps to annex land from Mountain View County with three more expected in a few weeks. (Mountain View Gazette)
Local Housing Authority Recommended
OLDS -- A task force recommended the city establish an affordable housing authority and emphasize infilling and smaller lot sizes in planning decisions. (Olds Albertan)
New Town Plan Needs Revision
EXSHAW -- A developer was given a list of 27 concerns that must be resolved before approval is given for an area structure plan for a proposal to build a 5,000-person community at Seebe. (Canmore Leader)
Sewage Released Into River
CANMORE -- Torrential rains caused untreated sewage to be released into the Bow River. (Cochrane Times)
$1M Project Overlooked
CANMORE -- Although approved in 2006, a $1 million capital project "fell through the cracks in the 2007 budget," and council had to give it belated approval. (Rocky Mountain Outlook)
Carwash Monopoly Sought
BANFF -- Town council was asked to support a zoning amendment that would give a proposed carwash exclusive rights to that type of business in town. (Banff Crag and Canyon)
School Buses For Community Use: Municipally Excellent Practice
BANFF -- Empty school buses that run between Banff and Canmore are used to provide access to community services for low-income riders who register for the service. Another excellent practice recently posted on MEnet, Alberta's Municipal Excellence Network. (ww.menet.ab.ca)
Condos Okayed
AIRDRIE -- Council gave the green light sell land used for tennis courts for a 190-unit condominium development. (Airdrie Echo)
Private Landfill Quashed
STRATHMORE -- County council turned down BFI's proposal to establish a large private landfill. (Strathmore Standard)
Mega Mall Gets Water
CALGARY -- A 4,500-acre commercial and residential development will get water through an agreement reached between the Municipal District of Rocky View and the Western Irrigation District. (Municipal District of Rocky View)
Pipeline Will Conserve Water
CALGARY -- Municipal officials say an agreement to build a pipeline to supply the East Balzac development will conserve water that is now lost through evaporation and seepage. (Rocky View Weekly)
Mayor Wins EcoCouncillor Award
CALGARY -- Three Hills Mayor Kevin Edwards was named EcoCouncillor of the Year at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual meeting this month. (Alberta Urban Municipalities Association)
Recruitment Campaign To Cost $1.5M
CALGARY -- The city will spend $1.5 million to recruit 640 new municipal staff, but the union says it should spend it on wages. (Calgary Herald)
Ambulance Accommodates Half Ton
CALGARY -- The city is the first in Canada to roll out an ambulance that can accommodate a person who weighs up to 1,000 pounds. (CBC Calgary)
Highway Transfer Considered
HIGH RIVER -- The province may transfer sections of highways to the municipality. (High River Times)
EDO Departs
HIGH RIVER -- The town's economic development officer resigned to take a position with the Canadian Diabetes Association. (High River Times)
Reservoir Owner Offers Water
HIGH RIVER -- A landowner who wants to develop his land has offered his reservoir to supply 50 homes in the surrounding area. (Okotoks Western Wheel)
Mayor Gets CAO Job Elsewhere
HIGH PRAIRIE -- Mayor John Brodick resigned his post to take on the CAO position in Manning. (South Peace News)
Town Quits Tourism Group
HIGH PRAIRIE -- Citing a lack of return on investment and constant turnover of staff, the town pulled out of its funding arrangement for Big Lake Country Tourism. (South Peace News)
Town Faces Water Shortage
OKOTOKS -- Even if all the communities in the area met water conservation objectives, the town would still see a supply shortfall in the future. (Okotoks Western Wheel)
ATV's May Be Impounded
BLAIRMORE -- A proposed bylaw to restrict off-highway vehicles in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass will allow vehicles to be impounded by bylaw officers. (Crowsnest Pass Promoter)
Recycling Lags
PINCHER CREEK -- While young people are taking to recycling and being diligent, baby boomers don't seem to be getting on board. (Pincher Creek Echo)
Alberta Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Alberta, MuniMall recommends starting with Municipal Profiles, a very current set of listings maintained by Alberta Municipal Affairs.
Municipal Saskatchewan
$100G For Sewer Plant Strategy
WEYBURN -- The city was granted $100,000 through the Green Municipal Fund to develop wastewater strategies to improve effluent quality. (Canada Newswire)
Fine Increase Denied
PRINCE ALBERT -- City council decided to stay with a $5 parking meter expiry fine. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Large Water Main Breaks
REGINA -- Cars were stranded in nearly a half-metre of water after a main break allowed water to stream out for nearly two hours causing extensive road damage. (CBC Saskatchewan)
Unique Paint Job Wins Award
REGINA -- Regina Transit earned the Canadian Urban Transportation Associations innovation award for its exterior and interior dŽcor. (City of Regina)
Taxi Rates Hiked
LLOYDMINSTER -- Cab fares will rise by 28 percent for a five-kilometre ride. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
More News
For more local government news across the province, MuniMall recommends Municipalities Today, published monthly by Saskatchewan Government Relations.
Saskatchewan Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Saskatchewan, MuniMall recommends starting with the Municipal Directory System, maintained by Saskatchewan Government Relations.
Municipal Manitoba
Metis Signs Draw Concerns
STE. RITA -- Residents and councillors don't like the Manitoba Metis Federation using "Local Metis Government" on its signs. (Beausejour Clipper Weekly)
Website Warns Motorists
WINNIPEG -- A trio of men have developed a website to keep an eye on the city's roadways and warn motorists of hazards, including red-light cameras and photo radars. (Sun Media)
Efforts Better Spent On Solutions
WINNIPEG -- Anti-poverty groups that are challenging the city's anti-begging bylaw should work toward solutions to homelessness instead. (audio file, Real Player required) (Frontier Centre for Public Policy)
Mobile Command Post Available
WINNIPEG -- A mobile command post for fire and other emergencies is available for the Winnipeg area and eastern Manitoba. (Government of Manitoba)
Crosswalks Discontinued
WINNIPEG -- Since cars were ignoring crosswalks, the city removed them, contrary to what pedestrians feel should have been done. (Canstar Community News)
Bird Dogs Grounded
WINNIPEG -- A city committee denied permission for dogs to be used to chase geese off a school yard. (CBC Manitoba)
2007-08 Class Schedule Is Out!
EDMONTON, AB -- Want to study municipal government with nationally recognized instructors in Canada's premier academic program? Does the convenience of online study from your home or office appeal to you? If so, check out all the details in our brand-new 2007-08 Government Studies Course Guide. Don't delay, popular classes are already filling up! (University of Alberta/Dalhousie University)
Manitoba Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Manitoba, MuniMall recommends starting with Manitoba Municipal Profiles, maintained by Manitoba's Department of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Municipal North
Housing Mix Proposed
INUVIK, NT -- Affluent homeowners don't want row houses or apartments in their neighbourhood. (CBC North)
City Tests Composting
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- Fifty people received composters to test whether significant diversion of waste will occur. (CBC North)
Lagoon Site Controversial
DAWSON CITY, YT -- The site of a sewage lagoon near the town's water supply is drawing some controversy. (CBC North)
Green Space Bylaw Fought
WHITEHORSE, YT -- A property owner filed suit to overturn a bylaw that restricts his ability to sell or develop the land. (CBC North)
Artificial Swamp Considered
IQALUIT, NU -- One idea to filter sewage effluent is to build an artificial swamp and let plants do the work. (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.
Municipal Ontario
Councillor Faces 6 Driving Charges
FORT FRANCES -- A town councillor was charged with six driving offences, including driving without a licence, insurance or valid plates. (Fort Frances Times)
Unbearable Situation
KIRKLAND LAKE -- An increasing number of bear sightings in town has councillors asking that more preventive measures be taken. (Kirkland lake Northern News)
Police Disbandment Approved
NEW LISKEARD -- The municipal force which polices only part of the town will be disbanded and replaced by the OPP which covers the rest of the town -- a complication of the amalgamation of three municipalities. (Kirkland Lake Northern News)
No Conflict, Says Mayor
SAULT STE. MARIE -- The mayor will vote on a Boxing Day shopping bylaw despite his son's ownership of a retail store. (Sault Star)
Ward Revision Rejected
SUDBURY -- The city will not review its ward boundaries -- a key recommendation of a review of the amalgamation that created the City of Greater Sudbury. (Sudbury Star)
Growth Management Process Advances
MIDHURST -- A steering committee to develop a growth management plan for the municipalities in and near the County of Simcoe held its first meeting. (County of Simcoe release hosted on MuniMall)
Part-Timers Prepare To Strike
VAUGHAN -- Part-time clerical staff requested a no-board report beginning the countdown to a strike deadline of July 2. (Canadian Union of Public Employees)
Canada Day Parade Cancelled
AURORA -- Lack of volunteers was cited as the reason the town cancelled its Canada Day parade. (Yorkregion.com)
Decal Decision Reversed
TORONTO -- City council relented and will allow troop-support decals to remain on city emergency vehicles after the original one-year period passes. (Toronto Star)
Cyclists Go Guerilla
TORONTO -- Cyclists have taken their protest to the streets and started painting their own bike lane markings. (Toronto Star)
New Taxes Proposed
TORONTO -- City council will consider implementing taxes on land transfers and vehicle registrations. (Globe and Mail)
$11.5B Promised For Transit
TORONTO -- Premier Dalton McGuinty announced plans to spend more than $11 billion over 12 years on transit projects in the GTA. (Globe and Mail)
Motorized Tools May Be Banned
TORONTO -- Leaf blowers and gas-powered lawnmowers are at the top of the city's hit list if a ban on two-stroke motors is implemented. (Globe and Mail)
Strike Looms
WOODSTOCK - City workers rejected the latest contract offer and set the stage for a strike or lockout June 22. (Canadian Union of Public Employees)
Bogus Water Testers
BRAMPTON -- Unidentified individuals posing as regional employees requesting water samples are trying to gain entry to homes. (Brampton Guardian)
Curfew Decision Deferred
BROCKVILLE -- City council wants to get public input before it decides whether a curfew on the waterfront is implemented. (Brockville Recorder)
Brush Pickup Axed
PRESCOTT -- Town council scrapped curbside yard waste and brush pickup, described as a "Cadillac" program by one councillor. (Brockville Recorder)
CAO Spared Review
CHATHAM -- A split council pared down terms of reference for an outside corporate review -- removing a reference to the CAO's relationship with council, management style and methods. (Chatham This Week)
OMB Hears Wind Appeal
KINCARDINE -- Final arguments were made in an Ontario Municipal Board hearing on a wind turbine project. (Kincardine News)
Wellfield Costs More, Again
PARIS -- The county is forced to fork out another $876,000 for escalating costs associated with upgrading a water wellfield. (Paris Star)
Water Consumption Drops
TILLSONBURG -- One-day-a-week lawn watering restrictions have cut the town's water use but further measures may have to be taken. (Tillsonburg News)
2007-08 Class Schedule Is Out!
EDMONTON, AB -- Want to study municipal government with nationally recognized instructors in Canada's premier academic program? Does the convenience of online study from your home or office appeal to you? If so, check out all the details in our brand-new 2007-08 Government Studies Course Guide. Don't delay, popular classes are already filling up! (University of Alberta/Dalhousie University)
Full User-Pay Eyed
CHATHAM -- Arena fees will be hiked to achieve full cost recovery on operations in five years. (Chatham Daily News)
73 Properties Abandoned
COBOURG -- A total of 75 properties were eligible for sale as a result of delinquent taxes: two were redeemed, 22 sold and 51 transferred to the town. (Northumberland Today)
Council Spat Hush-Hush
COLLINGWOOD -- No one's talking about a heated argument that spilled out of an in-camera meeting and then back in again. (Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin)
Psycho-Herb Under Fire
TRENTON -- City council was asked to send a strong message and pass a bylaw prohibiting the sale of hallucinogenic salvia available at corner stores. (Trenton Trentonian)
Landfilling Cheaper Than Composting
SARNIA -- The city will not expand its recycling program to include organics because landfilling is cheaper. (Sarnia Observer)
Ontario Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in this province, MuniMall recommends starting with Community Profiles, maintained by Ontario Economic Development.
Municipal Atlantic
Fired CAO Was Shocked
SACKVILLE, NB -- A civil trial was told that a fired CAO was shocked to learn her performance evaluation interview included a pink slip. (Sackville Tribune Post)
Special Attention Suspected
MONCTON, NB -- A new swinger's club is getting extra attention from city inspectors, the building's owner says. (CBC New Brunswick)
Dog Bite Capital Crime
QUISPAMIS, NB -- Pet lovers think a bylaw that allows the town to put down a dog if it bites someone is too harsh. (CBC New Brunswick)
Voters Reject Merger
SHEDIAC RIVER, NB -- Voters in four communities voted overwhelmingly against amalgamation. (CBC New Brunswick)
Mayor May Picket Party House
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- Mayor Andy Wells says he might join a neighbourhood picket to bully tenants in an unruly household. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Email Lands Manager In Hot Water
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- A city manager inadvertently sent an email about a newly-elected union official to the woman herself, saying she "bears close watching." (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Administrator Replaced
PORT AUX CHOIX, NL -- Three local residents will take over town operations in place of an administrator who was appointed by the province following ongoing political feuding. (Cornerbrook Western Star)
Garbage Hurled In Fee Dispute
CORNER BROOK, NL -- Outlying communities blame landfill tipping fees for the garbage that is piling up on the back roads. (Corner Brook Western Star)
Mayor To Run For MHA
MOUNT PEARL, NL -- The mayor easily won the nomination election for the PC Party for the October general election. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Smokers' Butts Showing
HALIFAX, NS -- A smoking ban has resulted in a growth in litter on downtown streets. (Halifax Daily News)
Derelict Buildings Face Demolition
HALIFAX, NS -- Regional council gave itself the authority to demolish derelict buildings. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Volunteers Getting Hosed
AMHERST, NS -- The county has cut off a community volunteer fire department's operating grant in a dispute over funding for a new pumper. (Amherst Daily News)
Compost Processor Opened
SYDNEY, NS -- The back-office of the region's new organic waste management facility was opened for tours. (Cape Breton Post)
Tuition Makes Councillors Gag
SYDNEY, NS -- Regional councillors want a further clamp-down on education and training expenses. (Cape Breton Post)
Circus Controls Urged
SUMMERSIDE, PE -- A city councillor will ask council to impose tougher regulations on treatment and handling of travelling circus animals. (Summerside Journal Pioneer)
Councillor Resigns
TIGNISH, PE -- A municipal councillor resigned rather than leave the room when discussion of an invoice from his son came up for discussion. (Summerside Journal Pioneer)
Transit Promotion Wins Award
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- The city's promotion of its transit service earned accolades from the Canadian Urban Transportation Association. (CBC Prince Edward Island)
Energy Savings Eyed
STRATFORD, PE -- Town council will consider building two wind turbines to save $22,000 a year in energy costs. (CBC Prince Edward Island)
Mayor Promotes Spying
GEORGETOWN, PE -- The mayor is asking neighbours to keep an eye on the house where he believes a man is selling drugs. (CBC Prince Edward Island)
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.
Current Events
The Next 30 Days:
-
Moving Forward Wastewater Biosolids Sustainability: technical, managerial, and public synergy conference
-- Moncton NB June 24-27, 2007.
More Events on MuniMall
See the MuniMall website for a much more comprehensive listing of regional municipal events.
Getting Wired
E-Voting Drives Participation
MARKHAM, ON -- The town's consultant said online voting resulted in a high voter turnout in the 2006 election. (Canada Newswire)
County Seeks High-Speed Network
ESSEX -- The county will try to form a public-private-sector partnership to build a high-speed computer network. (Windsor Star)
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