Municipal Alberta
City Cuts Chemical Pesticides
LETHBRIDGE -- The city continues to find ways to reduce the amount of chemical weed and insect killers used on public land. (Lethbridge Herald)
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)
Water Usage Exceeds Average
BURDETT -- Village residents are splurging on water and and the county will consider water meters, while being confident there is not a leak in the system. (The 40-Mile County Commentator)
Bylaw Upsets Wind Farmers
PINCHER CREEK -- A wind farm developer says proposed changes to land-use bylaws will force potential wind energy developers to look elsewhere to set up generating farms. (Pincher Creek Echo)
Grant Partnership Sought
NANTON -- The Municipal District of Willow Creek wants to team up with Nanton and Stavely to get access to grants for provision of emergency vehicles. (Nanton News)
Town Seeks Movie Premiere
VULCAN -- The tourism coordinator is trying to get Paramount Studios to premiere its next Star Trek movie in Vulcan which shares the name with a fictional planet, home to Mr. Spock. (Vulcan Advocate)
Housing Funds Not Forthcoming
OKOTOKS -- Even with its ferocious population growth, the town of Okotoks will not receive any targeted affordable housing dollars from the provincial government this year. (Calgary Herald)
Mega-Mall Water Deal Endorsed
IRRICANA -- The province has approved a deal to use an irrigation water licence to supply water for a commercial mega-mall development. (Rocky View Weekly)
Land Profiteering Reasonable
IRRICANA -- The former mayor says profits from the sale of land originally purchased from the town is reasonable, despite a 500 per cent increase in sale price. (Rocky View Weekly)
New Emergency Building Occupied
COCHRANE -- Emergency services moved into their new $6.2 million building. (Cochrane Times)
$4M Commitment Pondered
COCHRANE -- Town council may approve a $4.2 million commitment toward expansion of the Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Park. (Cochrane Times)
Town Ups Recycling Efforts
HIGH RIVER -- More communal recycling bins have been established and acceptable goods expanded with a view to starting curb-side collection in the future. (High River Times)
Resignation Invalid, Pol Says
DRUMHELLER -- A town councillor says she remains on council because she did not tender her resignation in writing and the council has no authority to turf her for being absent. (third item down after picture) (Drumheller Mail)
Emergency Management Agency Established
SUNDRE -- Town council established an emergency management agency to advise council on emergency plans and to review existing plans. (second item in column) (Sundre Round Up)
Works Facility May Be Shared
DIDSBURY -- The town and Mountain View County will consider sharing a new public works facility. (Didsbury Review)
Hamlets No Longer Be, Officially
DIDSBURY -- The official title of hamlet has been removed from three communities of Mountain View County. (Mountain View Gazette)
Candidate Withdrawal Ends Election
BOWDEN -- The municipal election was cancelled after a candidate withdrew his nomination and all the remaining candidates were acclaimed. (Olds Albertan)
Anti-ATV Bylaw Adopted
CROWSNEST PASS -- A controversial bylaw prohibiting use of all terrain vehicles was adopted allowing for the seizure, daily impound fees and the right to dispose of an ATV if fees are not paid. (Crowsnest Pass Promoter)
Cut Money Strings, CAO Says
MILLET -- The chief administrative officer says new provincial funding should not come with strings attached. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser)
Let There Be No Light
JASPER -- Town council is considering a switch to "dark sky friendly" lighting to enable a clear view of the stars at night. (Jasper Booster)
Integrated Petro Planning Lacking
HINTON -- The mayor wants to see better integrated land management for petroleum activities planned for the outskirts of town. (Hinton Parklander)
20-Year Capital Plan Set
HINTON -- Four years in the making, a 20-year plan for capital projects has been developed. (Hinton Parklander)
Candidates Warned About Signs
SHERWOOD PARK -- Strathcona County warned municipal election candidates to observe the sign bylaw or the signs will be removed and impounded. (Sherwood Park News)
Disaster Funds Approved
EDMONTON -- Five disaster recovery programs approved by the province will help residents across Alberta recover from overland flooding that caused significant property and infrastructure damage. (Government of Alberta)
Council and Mayor Acclaimed
VERMILION -- There will be no election for town council or mayor in the Town of Vermilion because they were all acclaimed. (Vermilion Standard)
Landfill Gets Another Hearing
THORHILD -- A citizens group got its wish for another public hearing over a proposal to construct an 800-acre landfill site. (Redwater Tribune)
Councillors Acclaimed
REDWATER -- While there will be an election for mayor with two candidates, all six council seats were filled by acclamation. (Redwater Tribune)
Intermunicipal User Cost-Sharing: Municipally Excellent Practice
RYLEY -- Usage statistics and other data were used to develop an inter-municipal cost sharing agreement among Beaver County and area municipalities. Another excellent practice recently posted on MEnet, Alberta's municipal excellence network. (www.menet.ab.ca)
Industrial Land Inventory Increased
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- City approved zoning amendments that will allow light and medium industries to build closer to residential areas. (Fort Record)
CAO Authority Reviewed
MAYERTHORPE -- Councillors considered the difference between a project and a function as it considered a new expenditure policy and how much authority the CAO should have. (Mayerthorpe Freelancer)
Dumpsters Prevent Land Severance
COLD LAKE -- A resident is unhappy with changes at a waste transfer station that prevents her from severing her property. (Cold Lake Sun)
Fire Service Sharing Rejected
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- County council unanimously rejected an offer to continue to receive fire services from the city. (Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune)
21st Century Logo Sought
FAIRVIEW -- The economic development committee wants to develop a new marketing logo to "re-brand" the town, but emphasizes it won't mess with the official "Heart of Peace" tagline. (Fairview Post)
Nukes Dominate Meeting
WORSLEY -- A meeting of northern municipal representatives was dominated by discussion of a proposed nuclear plant and the cloudiness of the issue. (Fairview Post)
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
Fire Damages Museum
MELFORT -- Some parts of a museum may be lost forever as fire destroyed a storage and a machine shed, damaging some historic vehicles and farm equipment. (CBC Saskatchewan)
Two Seek By-Election Nod
MELFORT -- Two candidates will seek a council seat in a by-election following the resignation of a councillor. (Melfort Journal)
Staffers Get Large Raises
MOOSE JAW -- Aiming to reduce turnover of skilled city staff, council approved 11 per cent wage hikes for 20 employees and a 27 per cent hike for the CAO. (Moose Jaw Times Herald)
Cement Shortage Curbs Construction
PRINCE ALBERT -- A shortage of cement powder has resulted in sidewalk construction delays. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Aggressive Begging Panned
PRINCE ALBERT -- Council passed the Obstructive Solicitation for Donations bylaw to curb aggressive panhandlers, especially at a downtown intersection where banks are located. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Dead Ducks Dumped
REGINA -- American hunters were forced to dump their haul of game birds in Saskatchewan landfills when U.S. authorities banned them following the discovery of the avian influenza virus at a commercial poultry operation near Regina Beach. (Regina Star Phoenix)
Paper, Cardboard Collection Cancelled
NIPAWIN -- An unexpected jump in costs has forced the cancellation of a paper and cardboard collection program that has been running for 15 years. (Nipawin Journal)
Officials Train For Disasters
CARLYLE -- Municipal officials from a number of communities underwent basic disaster management training. (Carlyle Observer)
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
City Bricks Used In Break-Ins
WINNIPEG -- A store owner says sidewalk bricks left over after the day's construction have been used in two smash-and-grab break-ins of her jewelry store. (CBC Manitoba)
CAO Resigns Suddenly
WINNIPEG -- CAO Annita Stenning resigned suddenly and without comment. (CBC Manitoba)
Acting CAO Halts Projects
WINNIPEG -- New construction projects in Winnipeg are being put on hold for at least the next week while the city reviews its capital budget. (CBC Manitoba)
Reeve Defends Expropriation
ELLICE -- The Manitoba Court of Appeal gave the green light to the Rural Municipality of Ellice to expropriate 154 hectares of pasture land for a tourist attraction. (CBC Manitoba)
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
Harbour Commission Proposed
HAY RIVER, NT -- The town is looking into setting up its own harbour commission in an effort to make it safer for local fishermen, boaters, floatplane and barge operators and other users of the town's namesake river. (CBC North)
Watch Program Considered
CAMBRIDGE BAY, NT -- The hamlet council thinks a neighbourhood watch program may curb a recent rash of vandalism. (CBC North)
Grow-Op Bylaw Passed
WHITEHORSE, YK -- More than two dozen offences are included in a bylaw aimed at marijuana growing operations. (CBC North)
Pool Proposal Revived
IQALUIT, NU -- The city of Iqaluit is resurrecting a proposal to build a multipurpose recreation centre and this time they're asking residents what they think of the idea before they put it to a vote. (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
McGuinty Supports GST Penny Plan
TORONTO -- Premier Dalton McGuinty, in the midst of an election campaign, called on the prime minister to dedicated a sixth of GST revenues to municipalities. (Canada Newswire)
Pols Too Sexy For Sewers
TORONTO -- A political scientist says aging infrastructure is not sexy enough for Ontario politicians to address in the provincial election campaign. (CBC Toronto)
Cabbies Cause Traffic Slowdown
TORONTO -- Hundreds of angry taxi drivers jammed city streets to protest airport fare policy. (Toronto Star)
De-Amalgamation Referendum Supported
HAMILTON -- Two provincial election candidates gave their support to a binding referendum to decentralize the municipal government. (Dundas Star News)
Plastic Bag Recycling Established
WHITBY -- Durham Region teamed up with grocery store chains and the plastics industry to provide in-store bag recycling. (Canada Newswire)
Incineration: Pros and Cons
OSHAWA -- Proponents and opponents offer a synopsis of their position on a proposed energy from waste incinerator. (Durhamregion.com)
City Residents Polled
OSHAWA -- City residents will be tapped to offer their input in a review of services covering 18 areas over the next three years to be conducted by the city's new auditor-general. (Durhamregion.com)
Mayor Holds Ward-By-Ward Meetings
PICKERING -- Mayor Dave Ryan held the third in a series of open ward meetings with residents. (Durhamregion.com)
Council Meetings SRO
BOWMANVILLE -- A series of town council meetings has attracted so many people that officials fear the crowds may violate the fire code. (Durhamregion.com)
Cabbies Seek Gas Price Relief
LINDSAY -- Taxi companies want a reduced fare for long-distance rides eliminated in light of higher gasoline prices. (Lindsay Post)
City Takes Case To Ombudsman
KAWARTHA LAKES -- The City of Kawartha Lakes has lodged a formal complaint against the Ministry of Children and Youth Services with Ombudsman Andre Marin after being shut out of a share of child-care funding. (Lindsay Post)
Fed Land Sought
BELLEVILLE -- The city intends to acquire waterfront property now owned by the federal government. (Belleville Intelligencer)
Asbestos Treatment $80K Yearly
KINGSTON -- It will cost $80,000 a year to deal with asbestos in city-owned buildings. (Kingston Whig Standard)
Mayor Silent On Search Warrant Application
OTTAWA -- A judge ordered a publication ban lifted on a search warrant application made by police during an investigation into allegations the mayor tried to bribe his opponent. (CBC Ottawa)
New CAO Appointed
CALEDON -- Doug Barnes, an assistant deputy minister for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, has been appointed the chief administrative officer. (Caledon Enterprise)
Solutions Needed For Boom Times
NEWMARKET -- Booming residential and commercial development is bringing to the fore a host of problems about providing municipal services. (Yorkregion.com)
Smoking Restriction Nixed
GEORGINA -- The mayor's proposal to ban smoking within 100 feet of entrances to town buildings was stubbed out by town council. (Yorkregion.com)
698-Home Plan Approved
NOBLETON -- King Township councillors approved a 698-home subdivision plan. (Yorkregion.com)
Heritage Designation Sought
RICHMOND HILL -- Plans for the University of Toronto to sell land on which stands the David Dunlap Observatory prompted town council to seek heritage designation for some buildings. (Yorkregion.com)
Mayor Slams Newspaper Allegations
VAUGHAN -- The embattled mayor of Vaughan dismissed newspaper allegations that she sought information from a fired cop to use in her election bid. (Yorkregion.com)
Recount Nears $900K
VAUGHAN -- Legal bills for the bitter election-recount battle between Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson and defeated former mayor Michael Di Biase are finally in, totalling $859,555. (Toronto Star)
Mayor Pursues AMO Convention
TECUMSEH -- The mayor, an AMO vice-president, wants to convince the association to hold a convention in his town. (Windsor Star)
Water Loss "In Red Zone"
NIAGARA FALLS -- Water loss through municipal system is "hitting the red zone," according to the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association. (Niagara Falls Review)
Turtle Signs Squashed
ORILLIA -- The city turned down a request to install signs to warn motorists of turtles crossing the road. (Orillia Packet and Times)
Councillor Gets House Arrest
NORTH BAY -- A city councillor will try to keep her seat despite being confined to her home after being convicted of illegally operating a para-legal service. (North Bay Nugget)
Snow Removal Reduced
SUDBURY -- City council doubled the amount of time it gives itself to clear snow and is bracing for the complaints. (Sudbury Star)
Expect Water/Sewer Rates To Double
ESPANOLA -- The town expects water and sewer rates to at least double in five years as it prepares to retrofit its underground infrastructure. (Mid-North Monitor)
Santa Bankrupt: Lawsuit Damages Unpaid
THUNDER BAY -- A former city councillor, Orville Santa, who was ordered to pay $50,000 in damages and costs to the former CAO in a slander suit, declared bankruptcy.
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
Towns To Ban Bags
HUNTINGTON -- Two Quebec towns have announced plans to outlaw non-biodegradable shopping bags. (Montreal Gazette)
Mayor Defends Religious Imagery
SAGUENAY -- The Roman Catholic religion has played an important role in Quebec history and its imagery should remain in public institutions, said Saguenay Mayor Jean Tremblay at hearings into immigrant accommodation. (CBC Ottawa)
Municipal Atlantic
Mayors Rue Media Disappearance
MIRAMICHI, NB -- Mayors in northern New Brunswick criticized the reduction of media outlets in the area, saying the lack of local news coverage helps to emphasize negative news. (CBC New Brunswick)
Reassessment Shocks Taxpayers
WOODSTOCK, NB -- The first property reassessment in 10 years was resulted in substantial tax increases. (CBC New Brunswick)
Filtration Too Expensive
SAINT JOHN, NB -- City officials say $110 million is too much for the municipality to bear by itself to upgrade its water filtration despite evidence of carcinogens being found. (CBC New Brunswick)
Privacy Laws Outdated
FREDERICTON, NB -- New Brunswick information access and privacy laws are "hopelessly outdated," and a overhaul is needed according to a new research report. (CBC New Brunswick)
Kitties Killed
SAINT JOHN, NB -- A couple of inveterate cat collectors had another batch of 74 felines seized from their trailer and put down. (CBC New Brunswick)
Graffiti Wall Established
MOUNT PEARL, NL -- In its battle against vandalism, the city has established a graffiti wall, the only place in town where it can be legally applied. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Town Fronts Personal Credit Lines
GAMBO, NL -- An audit shows that charges racked up on the town's credit card for hardware, groceries and liquor were paid by the town and unnamed sources. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Transit Strike Averted
HALIFAX, NS -- A transit strike has been averted after marathon talks, one day before more than 500 bus drivers, ferry operators and mechanics were set to walk off the job. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Simplicity Sought
HALIFAX, NS -- A change of name from Halifax Regional Municipality to simply Halifax will be studied. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Special Election For Quorum
CRAPAUD, PE -- Residents were expected to vote in a special election to choose as many as five people to make up a quorum for their village council. (CBC Prince Edward Island)
PEI May Rethink Its Tax Collection Holdback
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- The province may reconsider the 20 per cent it keeps when it collects property taxes on behalf of the town. (CBC Prince Edward Island)
Municipalities Welcome Review
SACKVILLE, NS -- Local officials don't expect much in the way of change to result from a provincial review of municipal governance. (Sackville Tribune Post)
Garbage Train Delayed
SYDNEY, NS -- A plan to ship municipal garbage by train may have been derailed by construction delays and residents' concerns. (Cape Breton Post)
Active Transport Study Under Way
SYDNEY, NS -- A Toronto firm has been hired for a $100,000 study of ways to promote active transportation -- walking, cycling, etc. -- to link communities. (Cape Breton Post)
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:
-
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.
-
The Sustainable Operations Summit Canada
-- White Oaks Resort & Spa, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Oct. 28-30, 2007.
More Events on MuniMall
See the MuniMall website for a much more comprehensive listing of regional municipal events.
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 © 2007 University of Alberta
