Municipal Alberta
Town Informally Lends $25K
PEACE RIVER -- Town council did away with formalities and informally lent $25,000 to cover the debt for an airshow in order avoid the public hearing on a bylaw that would be necessary with a formal loan. (Peace River Record Gazette)
Pine Beetle Fight Funded
CLAIRMONT -- The County of Grande Prairie will manage $5 million in funding from the province for the South Peace Municipality group to combat pine beetle infestation. (County of Grande Prairie release hosted on MuniMall)
Snow Removal Doubled
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- Snow removal crews will be doubled and general road maintenance will be increased. (Daily Herald-Tribune)
Citizens Get Boot From Committee
COLD LAKE -- City council gave first and second reading to revamp the municipal planning commission to eliminate two non-elected positions. (Cold Lake Sun)
Street Names Confusing
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- Some street names have a councillor scratching his head especially a street that intersects with itself four times. (Fort Record)
Red Light Cameras Sought
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- City staff requested red light cameras be installed at two busy highway locations. (Fort Record)
Photo Tour Of Streets
MAYERTHORPE -- A woman gave town council a photo tour of the broken infrastructure. (Mayerthorpe Freelancer)
New Manager Hired
BARRHEAD -- The new town manager will start his new job on Dec. 17. (Barrhead Leader)
Town Holds Grant Workshops
HINTON -- The town held a workshop to help local non-profit groups apply for community grants. (Hinton Parklander)
Heritage Management: Municipally Excellent Practice
ATHABASCA -- The development of a heritage management program earned the town a minister's award for excellence for smaller municipalities and is a practice recently posted on MEnet, Alberta's municipal excellence network. (www.menet.ab.ca)
MENet Awards Announced
EDMONTON -- An agreement among two municipalities and their local school district to use returning school buses to provide transportation for low-income earners won the minister's award for municipal excellence for outstanding achievement. (Government of Alberta)
Interbasin Transfers Approved
EDMONTON -- New legislation will allow an interbasin transfer of treated water between the Town of Stettler and a number of communities in east central Alberta. (Government of Alberta)
$60M Earmarked For Housing
EDMONTON -- More than $60 million will be invested in affordable housing project is 15 municipalities to generate 522 affordable housing units, part of an investment to create more than 11,00 units over the next five years. (Government of Alberta)
Pols Take Transit Challenge
EDMONTON -- Four city councillors accepted a challenge to give up their cars and use public transit for a week. (CBC Edmonton)
Businesses Split On BRZ
ST. ALBERT -- Downtown businesses are deeply divided over the creation of a business revitalization zone that would see an additional levy added to their tax bills. (St. Albert Gazette)
Regional Plan Opposed
MORINVILLE -- The mayor of Sturgeon County says drafts of a new regional growth strategy is a sell-out of rural Alberta. (St. Albert Gazette)
Province Okays Annexation
RED DEER -- The provincial cabinet gave the go-ahead for the annexation of eight quarter sections, but it will be a year before any development will take place. (Red Deer Advocate)
Annexation Plans Revealed
RED DEER -- City officials have submitted long-term plans to annex 47 quarter sections of land and identified another 350 for future growth. (Red Deer Advocate)
Village Seeks Land
ROCHON SANDS -- The Summer Village of Rochon Sands hopes to have completed the annexation of land from the County of Stettler by next year. (Red Deer Advocate)
Retro Hike Reaffirmed
AIRDRIE -- In an effort to undo what he thought shouldn't have been passed by council in the first place, Alderman Shawn Howard brought forth a recommendation to rescind retroactive pay raise, a proposal which was promptly voted down 4-2. (Airdrie Echo)
20% Go In Reserve
CANMORE -- Bracing for an eventual slowdown in growth, the Town of Canmore has dedicated $4,741,255 to reserves in its proposed 2008 budget. (Canmore Leader)
Housing Task Force Scrapped
CANMORE -- After two months of debate and heated letters, Town council scrapped the perpetual affordable housing task force. (Canmore Leader)
City Forms Housing Committee
CALGARY -- Calgary city council unanimously voted to use $63 million in existing money from the province to start building as many as 2,000 affordable housing units over the next five years. (CBC Calgary)
LRT Route Approved
CALGARY -- City council approved a route for the west leg of the city's LRT, agreeing to spend $700 million on the new line. (CBC Calgary)
Water Meters Considered
CROWSNEST PASS -- Water meters will be considered for new homes. (Crowsnest Pass Promoter)
Orderly Naming Sought
OLDS -- Developers are being asked to forward street names to the municipal planning commission so that it is done in an orderly manner. (Olds Albertan)
Bullying Not Tolerated
HANNA -- The town adopted an anti-bullying policy. (Hanna Herald)
Historic Home Purchased
HIGH RIVER -- The Municipal District of Foothills purchased a 100-year old building in order to preserve it and which will be used for undetermined office space. (High River Times)
Firefighting Bill Covered
PINCHER CREEK -- A couple who lost their home in a fire asked for, and received, relief from the $11,000 firefighting bill because they didn't have fire insurance. (Pincher Creek Echo)
City May Lose Gas Contract
MEDICINE HAT -- A $6-million-per-year client of the municipal gas utility, the Town of Redcliffe, is looking for a better deal. (Medicine Hat News)
Cell Phone Fine Rejected
CLARESHOLME -- Municipal District councillors won't be fined if their cell phones ring during a meeting, but the proposed policy was rejected because a $50 fine was thought too stiff. (Nanton News)
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
Town Among Most Livable
ST. WALBURG -- The town placed second among towns with a population less than 20,000 as one of the most livable in the world. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
City Adds Poll Station
MOOSE JAW -- The city purchased a discounted voting machine and will open another poll for the next election. (Moose Jaw Times Herald)
Transit Routes Simplified
PRINCE ALBERT -- The transit system will be changed to have a central hub with only one transfer point instead of six. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
New Cabinet
REGINA -- The first Saskatchewan Party government was sworn into office, and Bill Hutchinson was named minister of municipal affairs and minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation. (Government of Saskatchewan)
Minister Former SUMA Director
REGINA -- Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Hutchinson committed to building a positive relationship with municipalities. (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association)
Employees Can't Buy From City
MELFORT -- The city's purchasing policy was changed specifically disallowing employees from getting items through the city's suppliers. (Melfort Journal)
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
Infrastructure Bigger Problem Than Thought
BRANDON -- The recent report on Canada's infrastructure deficit shows that the problem is bigger than previously thought, said Ron Bell, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. (AMM)
Bell Acclaimed To Post
BRANDON -- Ron Bell was acclaimed as president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities to serve his fourth one-year term. (AMM release hosted on MuniMall)
Methane Capture Explored
BRANDON -- The city is studying ways to capture methane from the city's landfill. (Wheat City Journal)
Cast Iron Replacement Funded
LAC DU BONNET -- Money from the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program will be used to replace cast iron water and sewer mains. (Lac du Bonnet Leader)
GIS Implemented
SEDDON'S CORNERS -- Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet council approved $20,000 to implement a geographic information system. (Lac du Bonnet Leader)
Sewer Manager Earns Award
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE -- The city's wastewater treatment manager earned accolades from his peers in Western Canada for outstanding performance and professionalism. (Portage Daily Graphic)
Term Limits Nixed
WINNIPEG -- City councillors defeated a motion to impose a three-term limit. (CBC Manitoba)
Your Land Is Not Your Land
ST. LAZARE -- A precedent-setting verdict allows a municipality to expropriate land for "virtually any reason," says the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. (FCPP)
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
Arbitrator's Decision Awaited
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- Firefighters and the city expect an arbitrator's decision on a collective agreement in a few months following two days of talks. (CBC North)
Teen Curfew Passed
INUVIK, NT -- People under the age of 16 must be home by 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends in an effort to curb vandalism. (CBC North)
Alcohol Vote Delay Irksome
CAMBRIDGE BAY, NU -- The main proponent of a plebiscite to grant the alcohol control committee more power is irked that the election date is in February rather than sooner. (CBC North)
Mayors Upset Council Overruled
KIMMIRUT, NU -- The Nunavut government overturned council's rejection of a plebiscite asking to repeal the alcohol ban. (CBC North)
Hamlet Elections Scheduled
IQALUIT, NU -- Candidates have lined up to seek election to hamlet councils on Dec. 10. (Nunatsiaq News)
Learn From Others
IQALUIT, NU -- City councillors were told to learn from the experience of Yellowknife in determining long-term plans as a result of the diamond boom. (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
Reveal Spending, Pol Told
TORONTO -- The city's integrity commissioner told a city councillor that he must report all expenses, all of which he paid for himself, that he racks up in the performance of his duties. (Toronto Star)
Pols Barred From Parade
MILTON -- The Santa Claus parade was getting to be too long so all politicians except the mayor have been barred from entering. (Toronto Star)
CUPE Fights Casual Work
HAMILTON -- Bringing casual workers into the regular employment fold will be the main focus of mediation talks between CUPE and the City of Hamilton. (Canada Newswire)
Logo Stresses Urban-Rural Mix
CALEDON -- A creative depiction of the connection between rural and urban Caledon is the winning entry in the Town of Caledon's logo contest for Caledon Day. (Town of Caledon release hosted on MuniMall)
Fluoride Concerns Back On Tap
WATERDOWN -- Nearly a half-century after water fluoridation became widespread, a small but growing number of medical officials and environmentalists are again raising concerns over the practice. (Globe and Mail)
Group Defers Audit Call
CHATHAM -- A group of citizens backed off on a call for a forensic audit of the municipality because of the high cost, but reserved a decision until next year. (Chatham Daily News)
Closed-Session Recording Nixed
FORT ERIE -- A proposal to record closed-session meetings of town council was defeated, fearing tapes could end up "in the wrong hands." (Niagara Falls Review)
Battery Collection Proposed
PORT COLBORNE -- A recycling company said he could recycle all the disposable batteries in the Region, even the province, if only someone would collect them. (St. Catharines Standard)
Sludge Dryer Axed
THOROLD -- Niagara Region has axed plans to build Canada's first automated sewage sludge dryer. (Niagara Falls Review)
Pols Cool To Surtax
NIAGARA FALLS -- City councillors will not take the drastic step of charging a surtax to raise more money for roads and sewers. (Niagara Falls Review)
Fired Curator Compensated
ST. CATHARINES -- A judge ruled the fired museum director was not given reasonable notice and awarded her an additional $15,000 on top of the severance she already received. (St. Catharines Standard)
Fishy Fire Inspection
ST. CATHARINES -- A clean fire inspection report provided to an apartment building vendor was found to be "negligent misrepresentation" after the new owner was slapped with code violations, costing the city $500,000 in court imposed damages. (St. Catharines Standard)
Cops Called To Council
COBOURG -- A council meeting was suspended while a developer and a resident fought over some pictures the developer said were taken by trespass. (Northumberland Today)
Bilingual Service Urged
CORNWALL -- A city councillor wants every department and agency to have at least one employee capable of communicating in both official languages. (Cornwall Standard Freeholder)
City Staff Should Bus It
CORNWALL -- A consultant suggests city staff should take city transit to work. (Cornwall Standard Freeholder)
$1M Gaming Money Expected
BELLEVILLE -- The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation expects the city will reap $1M in revenue from a new slots casino. (Belleville Intelligencer)
Water Development Charges Hiked
PETERBOROUGH -- A proposed increase in development charges for water purposes would see them double for residential units and triple for commercial units. (Peterborough Examiner)
Officers Rummage For Evidence
OWEN SOUND -- Evidence gathered from bags of garbage resulted in six convictions for violating town bylaws. (Owen sound Sun Times)
City Speculates On Electricity
ORILLIA -- The city hopes to save $60,000 a year by purchasing electricity on the open market instead of through the province's regulated plan. (Orillia Packet and Times)
Ethanol Plant Put On Hold
BARRIE -- The city put a one-year freeze on a proposed ethanol plant to allow staff more time to study. (Barrie Examiner)
Convicted Councillor Won't Resign
NORTH BAY -- Citing a miscarriage of justice in her conviction for contempt of court, a councillor's request to attend meetings via teleconference while under house arrest was denied, and she won't resign. (North Bay Nugget)
Hot Dog Vendor Shut Out
SUDBURY -- The city will not renew a hot dog vendor's permit to sell at the arena to avoid competing with indoor concessions. (Sudbury Star)
Mega-Support Sought
SUDBURY -- The mayor called on labour leaders to support two large municipal projects, a $56-million recreation complex and a $75-million theatre. (Sudbury Star)
FONOM Seeks Revitalization
SAULT STE. MARIE -- Northern Ontario mayors want to revitalize the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities and speak on issues affecting all 110 members. (Sault Star)
Biodiesel Bus Tried
SAULT STE. MARIE -- A transit bus will be fuelled with a five-per cent mixture of biodiesel for the next year to determine what benefits can be gained. (Sault Star)
Old Cop Shop Sold
TIMMINS -- The city sold the former police station for about three-quarters its appraised value. (Daily Press)
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
Local Sales Tax Forbidden
QUEBEC -- The Liberal government will not allow Montreal and other cities to create a new municipal sales tax of one per cent to replace the coming cut in the federal GST. (CBC Ottawa)
New Agglomeration Model Sought
MONTREAL -- Mayors for the 15 reconstituted suburban cities of the Island of Montreal want a new model established that is distinct from the City of Montreal. (Canada Newswire)
Municipal Atlantic
Town Threatens Service Withdrawal
OROMOCTO, NB -- Federal and local officials are meeting with First Nations representatives to resolve $450,000 in debts for municipal services that the town has threatened to cut over the unpaid invoices. (CBC New Brunswick)
Drinking Water Supersedes River Restoration
OTTAWA, ON -- The minister responsible for New Brunswick says the federal government must first provide clean drinking water across the province before it can help restore the Petitcodiac River. (CBC New Brunswick)
Merger Recommended For Three
PORT AU CHOIX, NL -- A report recommends three municipalities with a shared border should merge, but a fourth is too far away to be included. (CBC Nefoundland)
Suit Overturned, Mayor Must Pay
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- The mayor may face a hefty legal bill in a failed bid to sue a councillor over comments made in a council meeting. (St. John's Telegram)
Cost Kills Name Change
HALIFAX, NS -- A city by another name is a regional municipality to save $850,000. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Smoking In Car With Kid Banned
WOLFVILLE, NS -- A bylaw to ban smoking in cars when a child is present passed, making the town the first in the country to do so. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Bottle Up The Royalties
TATAMAGOUCHE, NS -- Colchester County Council wants royalties from bottled water taken from local sources to flow into municipal coffers. (Truro Daily News)
NDP Wants City Monitored
HALIFAX, NS -Concerns over spending on the Commonwealth Games bid, and over a Dartmouth-based company making millions of dollars in untendered work, have the provincial NDP looking to bring in an auditor general to monitor HRM spending. (Halifax Daily News)
New CAO Welcomed
NEW GLASGOW, NS -- Lisa MacDonald, formerly the execudtive director of the Pictou Regional Development Commission, was named the new CAO for the town. (New Glasgow News)
Aging Volunteers Need Replacements
BLANDFORD, NS -- A continuing shortage of volunteer firefighters could mean more unanswered calls for help, fire officials warn. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Bus Or Cop
STRATFORD, PE -- The province's fastet-growing community is weighing two priorities, $125,000 to join Charlottetown's transit system, or $100,000 for another RCMP officer. (CBC Prince Edward Island)
Money Changes Everything
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- Talks between the city and unionized water and sewer workers broke down when the topic turned to money. (CBC Prince Edward Island)
Assessment Freeze Would Harm City
SUMMERSIDE, PE -- The province's three-year policy for a freeze on provincial residential property tax assessments may place municipalities between a rock and a hard place in maintaining services. (Journal Pioneer)
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:
-
Alberta Capital Region Alliance (ACRA) Fall General Assembly
-- River Cree Resort, Enoch, AB Dec. 7, 2007.
More Events on MuniMall
See the MuniMall website for a much more comprehensive listing of regional municipal events.
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