Municipal Alberta
Water Conservation Pact Signed
FORT MCMURRAY -- The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo signed an agreement and announced plans for a water conservation education and awareness program backed by a $100,000 investment from Albian Sands Energy Inc. (R.M. of Wood Buffalo release hosted on MuniMall)
Proposed Nuke Site Chosen
PEACE RIVER -- The Energy Alberta Corporation chose a site on Lac Cardinal as the location for a proposed nuclear power plant. (Peace River Record-Gazette)
Plebiscite Planned On Nukes
WHITECOURT -- County council decided to hold a plebiscite on a proposal to build Alberta's first nuclear power plant. (CBC Edmonton)
Town Goes Salt-Free
FAIRVIEW -- Road salt will be replaced by a mixture of finely-ground rock chips in a trial this winter. (Fairview Post)
Parks Study Completed
CLAIRMONT -- The County of Grande Prairie completed a comprehensive study of its parks and open spaces, identifying opportunities for future development. (County of Grande Prairie)
Village Dissolved
SANGUDO -- Following the result of a plebiscite in August, the minister of municipal affairs and housing dissolved the Village of Sangudo. (Mayerthorpe Freelancer)
Emerging Leadership Imperatives: 2 Day Workshop
BRUDERHEIM -- Join your managerial peers from throughout Alberta and the Prairies on Oct. 3-4 in Calgary for an important discussion of the unique challenges facing administrative leaders in local, regional, Metis and First Nation governments. (SLGM)
Tent City Closed
EDMONTON -- Homeless people were on the move as officials began closing down a tent city that had sprung up over the summer in a vacant downtown lot. (CBC Edmonton)
Errant Signs Taken Down
EDMONTON -- Thousands of garage sale and real estate signs are being removed and 250 people have been fined $110 for violating the city's sign bylaw. (CBC Edmonton)
Funding Formula Announced
EDMONTON -- The province announced the formula by which more than $12 billion will be transferred to municipalities over 10 years. (Government of Alberta)
"Pretty Good" Deal, Say MLAs
EDMONTON -- Shortcomings between what the city requested and what it received in long-term funding can be addressed in the capital region integrated growth management plan in January, say government MLAs. (Edmonton Journal)
Funding Pleases AAMDC
NISKU -- The revised Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding will benefit all municipalities. (Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties)
Small Municipalities Eligible For Grants
EDMONTON -- More than $14 million in grants are available to municipalities with populations less than 20,000 for various projects to improve governance, administration, services, delivery and intermunicipal cooperation. (Government of Alberta)
Sculptures Offend Hindus
EDMONTON -- Mayor Stephen Mandel called for the removal of four sculptures that local Hindu leaders say are disrespectful of their faith. (Edmonton Journal)
Better Regional Planning Required
EDMONTON -- Better planning and coordination is needed to address growth challenges in the capital region, according to a report from a series of workshops hosted by the city. (City of Edmonton)
Barrier-Free Agreement Signed
EDMONTON -- City employees and the employer have worked out a "Duty-To-Accommodate" framework to ensure workers may continue to work productively regardless of injury or illness. (City of Edmonton)
Councillor Chairs National Council
SHERWOOD PARK -- Councillor Ken Lesniak has been appointed chairman of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund. (Sherwood Park News)
Esthetic Design Standards Considered
HINTON -- A public hearing will be held to discuss proposed architectural standards for commercial properties along Highway 16. (Hinton Parklander)
Entire Council Acclaimed
PONOKA -- There will be no town election Oct. 15 since every council position was filled by acclamation. (Ponoka News)
Lobby Group Formed
RED DEER -- Concern for deteriorating quality of life has spawned a citizens' group that will lobby city council and election candidates. (Red Deer Advocate)
Silence Is Golden
MILLET -- Town council approved a noise bylaw that covers general abatement and night-time restrictions. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser)
Municipally Excellent Practice: Municipal Area Partnership Created
DIDSBURY -- Six municipalities created a municipal area partnership and templates for an intermunicipal development plan and a memorandum of agreement. It's an excellent practice recently posted on MEnet, Alberta's municipal excellence network. (www.menet.ab.ca)
Cooperation Agreement Reached
OLDS -- The town approved a Memorandum of Agreement with Mountain View County on intermunicipal cooperation. (Olds Albertan)
Town Wants Census Bill Paid
BANFF -- The town wants the federal government to foot the $40,000 bill for a municipal census which found the federal census dramatically underestimated the population. (Calgary Herald)
GPS Considered For Transit
BANFF -- The town is considering global positioning technology to provide transit users real-time information on bus location and anticipated arrival. (Banff Crag and Canyon)
Truant Councillor Ousted
DRUMHELLER -- A town councillor resigned from council ahead of a motion to be removed after having missed three consecutive meetings without notice, but she will seek re-election. (Drumheller Valley Times)
City Looks Far Ahead
AIRDRIE -- The city will engage the public in developing a long-term sustainability plan as opposed to a short-term plan for the purpose of accessing provincial grants or federal funding. (Airdrie Echo)
Dual-Flush Rebates Offered
CANMORE -- Homeowners are eligible for municipal rebates to replace wasteful toilets with dual-flush porcelain thrones. (Canmore Leader)
Trailer Parkers Move Out
COCHRANE -- The remaining residents of a trailer park moved out following their eviction, almost all leaving town. (CBC Calgary)
Workplace Safety Acknowledged
COCHRANE -- The town was among only three towns and 10 municipal authorities recognized as one of 284 employers in the province with top safety records. (Cochrane Times)
Road Sealant Washes Away
CROWSNEST PASS -- Residents were concerned about pollution when heavy rains washed away gravel road sealant before it had a chance to dry. (Crowsnest Pass Promoter)
Interim CAO Steps In
HIGH RIVER -- The town's director of corporate services will fill in until a replacement for the town manager, who left for health reasons, is found. (High River Times)
Maximum Lot Size Revisited
CALGARY -- The Municipal District of Rocky View will revisit a two-acre maximum size cap for residential property lots in areas surrounding the Hamlet of Bragg Creek. (Okotoks Western Wheel)
Mayor Promotes LRT P3
CALGARY -- Pointing to "amazing things" in Vancouver, Mayor Dave Bronconnier suggests the city should look at public-private partnerships to fund construction of a light rail transit project. (Calgary Herald)
Pols' Pay Hiked
CALGARY -- Councillors elected in the Municipal District of Rocky View next month will receive a third more in remuneration. (Rocky View Weekly)
Water Plant Switched On
STAVELY -- The new municipal water plant was officially brought online. (Nanton News)
Automated Trash Collection Begins
MEDICINE HAT -- The city will begin its first phase of implementation of automated trash collection featuring a truck with a mechanical arm that will hoist and empty specially-designed carts. (City of Medicine Hat release hosted on MuniMall)
New CAO Appointed
LETHBRIDGE -- Longtime MuniMall reader and contributor Dennis Shigematsu has been appointed the new County Manager. (County of Lethbridge release hosted on MuniMall)
Racial Inclusion Promoted
LETHBRIDGE -- The city has joined an international coalition to prevent racism and ethnic discrimination from taking hold in the city. (Lethbridge Herald)
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
Feds Fund Water Improvements
ROSETOWN -- Four regional water supply projects will receive as much as $27.3 million in funding from the federal government. (Canada Newswire)
Non-Car Routes Eyed
PRINCE ALBERT -- A committee will investigate ways to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to get around the city. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Strike Settled
SWIFT CURRENT -- A four-month strike by the city's electrical workers ended with an agreement on a three-year contract with modest wage increases. (Southwest Booster)
Engineer Moves On
SWIFT CURRENT -- The city said goodbye to its engineer who will take on another job in B.C. after 15 years in the city. (Southwest Booster)
Municipal Strategy Discussed
REGINA -- Key deputy ministers and government relations officials met with municipal representatives in a workshop to discuss the development of a Municipal Sector Strategic Plan. (Municipalities Today)
Storm-Sanitary Decoupling Begins
LLOYDMINSTER -- New city standards call for weeping tiles to be connected to storm sewers, not sanitary sewers. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
Border Divides City
LLOYDMINSTER -- Census data shows the Saskatchewan-Alberta border is more than a political boundary; it's a sociological divide, as well. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
Residents Nix Recycled Homes
MEADOW LAKE -- Residents voiced their opposition to a proposal to locate multi-unit homes from CFB Cold Lake to Meadow Lake to be used for student housing. (Meadow Lake Progress)
Plastic Bag Tax Urged
ESTEVAN -- A town councillor is urging the implementation of a tax on the sale of plastic bags. (Estevan Mercury)
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
Councillor Wants Four Answers
WINNIPEG -- City council's finance boss said four reports are being prepared by different departments to explain cost overruns on a sewage plant project. (CJOB Radio)
Worker Succumbs To Injuries
WINNIPEG -- One of the men injured in a work accident on a bridge died from his injuries. (CBC Manitoba)
Power Struggle Nixes Police Board
WINNIPEG -- Some councillors held out for a police advisory board with more power when they voted against establishing one. (CBC Manitoba)
Bus Drivers Seek Protection
WINNIPEG -- City transit operators are joining a national petition for stiffer penalties for people who abuse and assault bus drivers. (CBC Manitoba)
Tax-Sharing Plan Fixed
CARMAN -- A tax-sharing plan as a precursor to future annexation of land has been settled between the Town of Carman and Rural Municipality of Dufferin. (Carman Valley Leader)
CAO Resigns, Confidentially
WINNIPEG BEACH -- The town and CAO agreed "we each go our separate ways" coincidentally with the resignation of the development officer. (Interlake Spectator)
Disaster Relief Denied
LAC DU BONNET -- Since storms in May did not threaten lives or displace people from their homes, the Emergency Measures Organization denied disaster relief funding. (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.
Municipal North
Premier Censured For Remark
IQALUIT, NU -- Premier Paul Okalik was censured by the legislative assembly during a special session for a remark he made about the executive director of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities. (Globe and Mail)
Deadbeats Forgiven
IQALUIT, NU -- The city has forgive more than $15,000 in outstanding water bills because it has become too expensive to collect on them. (CBC North)
Squatters Disturb Peace
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- Disturbances caused by people who live in tents for the summer have been causing more than the usual share of trouble this year. (CBC North)
Testing Standards Failed
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- Some communities fail to meet minimum testing standards for drinking water. (CBC North)
Petition Forces Plebiscite
DAWSON CITY, YK -- A petition by residents has enough signatures to compel the town to hold a referendum on the location of a proposed sewage lagoon. (CBC North)
Grant Funding Increased
WHITEHORSE, YK -- The territorial government announced a 32 per cent increase in the Comprehensive Municipal Grant over the next five years. (Yukon Government)
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
Critics Sore About Sole-Sourcing
TORONTO -- Contracts valued up to $3.2 million were let by the city without competitive bids. (Toronto Star)
Housing Official Fired In Bribery Probe
TORONTO -- A public housing official was fired and an investigation into bribery allegations was launched. (Toronto Star)
Province Reassumes Some Welfare Costs
TORONTO -- The provincial government will reassume from municipalities responsibility for disability support and drug benefits for welfare recipients amounting to about $935 million. (Canada Newswire)
OMB To Hear It Again
HAMILTON -- A contentious condominium development will be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board for the second time. (Ancaster News)
City Eyes Methane Recovery
BRANTFORD -- City council endorsed staff recommendations to establish a power utility to generate electricity from landfill methane and terminate talks with Suncor to do the same. (Brantford Expositor)
Credit Card Points For Taxes
VAUGHAN -- Credit card users will be able to apply "reward points" to their municipal taxes. (CBC Ottawa)
Heritage Bridge Closed
CALEDON -- An 87-year-old rural bridge was found to be unsafe and closed to vehicular traffic. (Northpeel.com)
EcDev Kudos Earned
CALEDON -- The town's economic development and communications department earned a number of national and international awards for its marketing efforts. (Town of Caledon release hosted on MuniMall)
Town Undertakes Green Planning
GEORGETOWN -- A Green Task Force has been established and a fact-finding event was held with outside municipal experts to begin the process of developing a sustainable environmental plan for the town. (Northpeel.com)
Feds OK Convention Centre
NIAGARA FALLS -- The federal government okayed its one-third share of funding for a $100 million proposed municipal convention centre. (Niagara Falls Review)
Rude Outbursts Reined In
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE -- The mayor will remind delegates that rude and disrespectful comments will not be tolerated during presentations. (St. Catharines Standard)
Lagoon Leaking Again
GANANOQUE -- A leak was found in a recently repaired sewage lagoon. (Gananoque Reporter)
Lead Paint Found
KINGSTON -- Lead paint found during a $17.1 million theatre restoration project may push the budget farther into the red. (Kingston Whig Standard)
Pawnshop Privacy Upheld
OTTAWA -- Some people fear an increase of theft will occur after the province's privacy commissioner ordered the city to stop collecting personal information from people who sell goods to pawnshops and second-hand stores. (CBC Ottawa)
Troop-Support Decals Okayed
OTTAWA -- City vehicles will bear "Support Our Troops" decals after council voted overwhelmingly to allow them. (CBC Ottawa)
LRT Lawsuits Mount
OTTAWA -- A second company has launched a $100-million lawsuit against the city for its cancellation of a light rail transit project. (CBC Ottawa)
Mayoral Micromanagement
OTTAWA -- A city council committee will recommend that the mayor review each new hire and contract over $10,000 being considered by city staff. (CBC Ottawa)
Water Oversight Board Unnecessary
BELLEVILLE -- The Ontario Municipal Water Association says the proposed creation of a provincial oversight body modeled on the Ontario Energy Board would serve no other purpose than to drive up rates charged to consumers. (OMWA release hosted on MuniMall)
Vacated Housing Units Horrible
BELLEVILLE -- A county councillor was shocked to see the state some social housing units are left in when they are vacated by tenants. (Belleville Intelligencer)
Auditor Told To Soldier On
CLARINGTON -- An auditor hired to investigate the ex-mayor's election finances has been unable to contact the politician, and unsolicited information leads him to believe the scope of the investigation should be expanded. (Durhamregion.com)
Integrity Report Flawed
MEAFORD -- The first report by the municipality's integrity commissioner shows that flaws exist in the investigation process and the council will revisit its code of conduct. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
Councillor Faces Jail
NORTH BAY -- A city councillor who illegally operated a paralegal business faces possibly four months in jail for contempt of court after ignoring an order to stop illegally practicing law. (North Bay Nugget)
City Fined Over Work Injury
THUNDER BAY -- The city was fined $50,000 and a supervisor $2,000 as a result of an accident where a truck backed into a worker and injured his leg. (Government of Ontario)
Sewage Plant Functions Malodorously
SAULT STE MARIE -- The city is withholding $1 million from the contractor until a malfunctioning biofilter is fixed and unpleasant odours are abated in a newly constructed sewage plant. (Sault Star)
City To Hire Auditor
SUDBURY -- City council agreed in principle to hire an auditor but has not worked out significant details. (Sudbury Star)
Trees Grow On Money
LONDON -- The province has committed $1 million toward the planting of 100,000 native tree species in urban areas. (Canada Newswire)
Lights, Camera, Policy
BRIGHTON -- City council discussed creating a policy to deal with film production as the chamber of commerce has been pursuing producers to shoot locally. (Stirling Community Press)
Food Sludge Stink Unbearable
LEAMINGTON -- Council raised a stink about ongoing dumping of vegetable sludge, a byproduct of food processing, that a company is dumping on a farm field. (Leamington Post)
Pay Review Committee Struck
ESSEX -- A committee of seven will determine the level of remuneration for county councillors. (Amherstburg Echo)
Non-Union Pay Hiked
PRESCOTT -- Non-union staff will receive an 8.2 per cent wage increase over three years to match the contract with unionized employees. (Brockville Recorder and Times)
Ontario Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in this province, MuniMall recommends starting with Community Profiles, maintained by Ontario Economic Development.
Municipal Québec
Colourful Mayor Dies
QUEBEC -- Mayor Andree Boucher, known as the "tigress from Ste. Foy," died reportedly from a major heart problem. (Montreal Gazette)
Replacement Imposes Authority
QUEBEC -- The city's replacement mayor raised hackles when he imposed his new authority with a vigour that some have called indecent. (Montreal Gazette)
Gaping Cracks Found In Underground Mall
MONTREAL -- A metro station was evacuated and a section of busy street was closed after gaping cracks appeared in the ceiling of the underground mall. (Montreal Gazette)
Union Fined For Traffic Jam
MONTREAL -- The city's union was ordered to pay $25 plus interest for each of the 35,435 people who were inconvenienced in a traffic jam caused by protesting blue-collar workers. (Montreal Gazette)
Municipal Atlantic
Sick Tree Policy Prepared
SACKVILLE, NB -- Town council along with a local committee are preparing a policy on how to deal with trees infected with Dutch elm disease. (CBC New Brunswick)
Resistance Likely Futile
SAINT JOHN, NB -- Any work done to secure the land against erosion caused by the massive tides in the Bay of Fundy will likely be futile. (CBC New Brunswick)
Lessons From Landfill Fire
FREDERICTON, NB -- Fire officials say environmental inspectors should have been on site earlier while a fire burned at a landfill site and issued health warnings sooner than they did. (CBC New Brunswick)
RCMP Suggests Private Security
SHEDIAC, NB -- Responding to complaints about lack of visibility, an RCMP spokesman said the town could review its policing contract or hire private security guards. (CBC New Brunswick)
CUPE Fights Water Privatization
SACKVILLE, NB -- The union representing municipal employees was expected to argue in court that the town acted secretly, in bad faith and contrary to provincial law when it decided to privatize its water treatment plant. (Sackville Tribune Post)
Edible Underwear To Be Expensed
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- Making light of a scathing provincial auditor's report, the mayor says he will charge edible underwear to his expense account as a meal while on a trip to visit the Dalai Lama in Ottawa, the occasion for which the city will fly the Tibetan flag. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Accused Pol Takes Paid Leave
GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, NL -- A town councillor charged with sexual assault was granted a year's leave from council with pay. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Protestors Hound Mayor
PARADISE, NL -- Dog owners reacted with placards over the mayor's suggestion that euthanasia for dogs and baseball bats for owners be used to curb pooping puppies in public parks. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Reserve Acquires Land
SYDNEY, NS -- The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will sell a 10-hectare parcel of land to a nearby First Nation with an eye for commercial development. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Green Space Has Dark Side
HALIFAX, NS -- The city is struggling to cope with a new dark side of Halifax Common where violent crime is growing in the public green space. (Amherst Daily News)
County Joins Anti-Bomb Group
AMHERST, NS -- Cumberland County has joined Mayors For Peace to promote nuclear disarmament. (Amherst Daily News)
Derelict Ship Causes Concern
SYDNEY, NS -- Overlapping jurisdictions, water lot and property ownership are complicating efforts to have a sunken trawler removed from the Sydney River. (Cape Breton Post)
MLA Disputes Back Rent Claim
ST. PETER'S, NS -- An independent audit shows that an MLA owes back rent to the village for his office. (Cape Breton Post)
Flag Policy Set
TRURO, NS -- In the wake of a flap over its denial to fly a gay pride flag, the town set a policy that it will not entertain any requests to hoist anything other than the national, provincial and municipal colours at town hall. (Truro Daily News)
Dressing Room Drinking Fines Urged
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- council was split on a recommendation to institute fines and banishment for drinking in arena dressing rooms. (CBC Prince Edward Island)
By-Election A Squeaker
KENSINGTON, PE -- The mayoral by-election among two town councillors was won by 15 votes. (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:
-
Composting Council of Canada national conference
-- Moncton NB Sept. 19-21, 2007
-
Communities in Bloom awards
-- Moncton NB Sept. 19-23, 2007
-
Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention
-- Vancouver BC Sept. 24-28, 2007
-
Creative City Network of Canada's 6th Annual Conference
-- Sutton Place Hotel, Edmonton, AB Oct. 10-13, 2007
-
Transportation Association of Canada Annual Conference
-- Saskatoon SK Oct. 14-17, 2007
-
Canadian Brownfields Partners in Sustainable City Building forum
-- Montreal QC Oct. 18-19, 2007
More Events on MuniMall
See the MuniMall website for a much more comprehensive listing of regional municipal events.
Getting Wired
City Tracks Online Idlers
TORONTO -- An auditor found two percent of city workers are exceeding allowable standards of personal time on the internet at work. (Toronto Star)
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