Municipal Alberta
Wages Boosted
MEDICINE HAT -- City council recently approved an additional 1 per cent wage adjustment over current contracts for non-union and union employee groups "to attract and retain staff." (City of Medicine Hat)
Rec Centres Funded
PINCHER CREEK -- The federal and provincial governments will jointly invest nearly $840,000 to upgrade four existing outdoor recreational facilities, expand the Wylie Athletic Park in the Town of Okotoks and allow for the development of a Facilities Master Plan for the Town of Pincher Creek. (Government of Alberta)
Administrative Shuffle Underway
LETHBRIDGE -- There will be new faces on staff as an administrative shuffle takes place to replace key county managers. (Coaldale Sunny South News)
Sewage Trunk Line Proposed
OKOTOKS -- Mayor Bill McAlpine is proposing the construction of a pipeline to bring wastewater from Turner Valley and Black Diamond to OkotoksÕ treatment plant. (Western Wheel)
Amalgamation Panned
TURNER VALLEY -- The town will not pursue amalgamation with Black Diamond. (Western Wheel)
Capital Region Woes Move South
HIGH RIVER -- The Municipal District of Foothills doesn't want a Capital Region structure imposed on the Calgary Regional Partnership. (High River Times)
City Touts High-Speed Train
CALGARY -- A high-speed rail link to Edmonton and Fort McMurray is one project a community task force says is key to the city's improvement in quality of life. (CBC Calgary)
Property Assessments Jump 25%
CALGARY -- The average house in Calgary is now worth $447,500, a jump of 25 per cent over last year, a sign of the city's booming economy and desirability, city officials said. (CBC Calgary)
Smoking Tent Outlawed
CALGARY -- Owners of casinos and bingo halls in Calgary who thought they found a loophole in a new provincial smoking law and erected outdoor smoking tents have been told they are illegal. (CBC Calgary)
Province Okays Utility
CALGARY -- The provincial government has given the green light to the Municipal District of Rocky View for the creation of a utility services corporation taking charge of the provision of water, wastewater and solid waste services. (Top story under photo)
(Rocky View Weekly)
Prairie Dog Poison Sought
CALGARY -- Rocky View council passed a measure at the Dec. 11 council meeting requesting that the provincial government make available a two per cent solution of liquid strychnine for pest control across the MD, if the federal government approves its use for Alberta. (Cochrane Times)
Town Wins Land-Use Dispute
BANFF -- Since Parks Canada approved the town's land use bylaw, its objection to a professional office outside the commercial area was quashed by the town's development appeal board. (Banff Crag and Canyon)
Cooperation Committee: Municipally Excellent Practice
THREE HILLS -- Five municipalities joined up with the county to create the Kneehill Regional Summit Committee to promote intermunicipal cooperation in areas of mutual interest. It's an excellent practice recently posted on MEnet, Alberta's municipal excellence network. (www.menet.ab.ca)
Multiplex Centre Funded
PENHOLD -- The federal and provincial governments will jointly invest $6 million towards the construction of a multiplex recreation facility in the Town of Penhold. (Government of Alberta)
Annexations Tax Staff
RED DEER -- Looming City of Red Deer annexations are weighing heavily on several short-staffed city departments. (Red Deer Advocate)
New Sewer System Funded
NORGLENWOLD -- The federal and provincial governments will invest $1.6 million to build and install a wastewater collection system in the Summer Village of Norglenwold. (Government of Alberta)
Rec Centre Under Review
ST. ALBERT -- The Servus Credit Union Place will undergo a massive review to turn around a $2 million loss on operation. (St. Albert Gazette)
The Women Left
HARDISTY -- CBC has announced it will launch a television program on Jan. 21 about how the town survived a week without women. (First story below Welcome Movie) (Town of Hardisty)
LRT Workers Find Human Remains
EDMONTON -- An archeologist will supervise the construction of Edmonton's LRT expansion after construction workers dug up human remains this month. (CBC Edmonton)
Water Conservation Bylaw In Effect
EDMONTON -- New homes, buildings and major renovations in Edmonton now require water-efficient taps, toilets and shower heads after a new city bylaw came into effect Jan. 1. (CBC Edmonton)
Tent City Campers Find Homes
EDMONTON -- Former residents of the tent city have been set up in homes and are happy to be living indoors. (CBC Edmonton)
$130M Plan For Water Play
EDMONTON -- It may be a winter city, but Edmonton is planning to spend $130 million over the next 10 years to rebuild outdoor pools, add spray parks and create two major aquatic parks complete with sandy beaches. (CBC EDMONTON)
Thou Shalt Play Nicely
EDMONTON -- Premier Ed Stelmach warned capital region politicians "to play nicely in the sandbox" following the announcement of a framework for a regional board to oversee shared issues. (CBC Edmonton)
Full Report Available Online
EDMONTON -- The report and background information regarding the Capital Region Integrated Growth Management Plan is available online. (Government of Alberta)
Financial Assistance Database Online
EDMONTON -- Alberta municipalities now have access to a searchable database that provides information on financial assistance offered by the provincial government. The new database is a natural evolution of the Municipal Financial Assistance Handbook, which was originally developed in hard copy in 2006 and updated in 2007. (Government of Alberta)
Senior Manager Retires
EDMONTON -- A 32-year employee will retire from his position as the general manager of the city's asset management and public works department. (City of Edmonton)
Surveillance Equipment Stolen
DRAYTON VALLEY -- Surveillance equipment was installed at the county's transfer stations which solved the problem of arson and vandalism, but the equipment was then stolen. (Drayton Valley Western Review)
County Refuses SPCA Funding
HINTON -- Yellowhead County refused a request to help fund construction of a new SPCA shelter in Hinton. (Hinton Parklander)
"Town Centre" Name Protested
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- Some councillors didn't like the choice of "Southfort Town Centre" as the name of a proposed high-density residential development. (Fort Saskatchewan Record)
Councillor May Resign
THORHILD -- A county councillor has found that he may be handcuffed in opposing a landfill because he owns property nearby and may resign so he can continue the fight. (Redwater Tribune)
Lingerie Billboard Offends
BONNYVILLE -- A letter of complaint about the content on one of the billboards that marks the western entrance of the Town of Bonnyville has prompted council to do a complete review of its billboard policy. (Bonnyville Nouvelle)
Free Light Bulbs
CLAIRMONT -- County residents are invited to pick up one free compact fluorescent light bulb per household at landfill sites through Project Porchlight. (County of Grande Prairie)
Water System Upgrade Funded
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- The federal and provincial governments will jointly invest more than $5.5 million to expand the City of Grande PrairieÕs water system. (Government of Alberta)
Public Safety Outweighs Privacy
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- The province's privacy commissioner's report on surveillance cameras said public safety outweighs privacy and the city overcame another hurdle for downtown surveillance. (Daily Herald-Tribune)
Housing Grant Denied
FAIRVIEW -- Town officials are "waiting patiently" to learn why its $3.5 million grant application for affordable housing units was turned down. (Fairview Post)
CAO Search Begins
FAIRVIEW -- CAO Lloyd Johnston will be retiring from his position as of April 30, and the process is now underway to find the next top administrator. (Fairview Post)
Nuke Questionnaire Prepared
PEACE RIVER -- Municipal District of Peace councillors finalized a draft questionnaire to poll residents their thoughts on a nuclear power station. (Peace River Record Gazette)
Long-Term Cost Sharing Pondered
PEACE RIVER -- Municipal leaders are looking to develop a longer-term cost sharing agreement with Sunrise County for the town's services. (Peace River Record Gazette)
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
Premium Fares Fought
PRINCE ALBERT -- A disabled man who recently won a human rights settlement involving Regina's special needs transit system hopes Prince Albert will make changes to its fee system. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Minimum Tax Debated
PRINCE ALBERT -- Council debated a plan, but took no action, to implement a minimum property tax amount. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Reserves Generate Large Income
MOOSE JAW -- Nearly $75 million in reserves earned about $4 million which would represent a 23.6 per cent tax increase to replace. (Moose Jaw Times-Herald)
Municipal Leadership Development
REGINA -- A number of municipal associations and the Department of Government Relations have designed a one-day program for elected and appointed municipal leaders in Saskatchewan. (Municipal Leadership Development Program)
Review Ready For Discussion
REGINA -- Background information and discussion papers on the review of the Northern Municipalities Act are now available and ready for consultation. (Government of Saskatchewan)
Revolving Door RCMP Detachment
LLOYDMINSTER -- The mayor wants to retain experienced police officers rather than see them get trained and transferred so quickly. (Lloydminster Meridian Booster)
Director Leaves Sector
NIPAWIN -- The director of public works will join a private firm in Saskatoon. (Nipawin Journal)
City Requests Road
WEYBURN -- The city of Weyburn requested a road be built on the west side of a sewage lagoon once it is completed. (Weyburn Review)
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
Firewall Required For Garages
WINNIPEG -- Proposed changes to improve home fire safety include a provision to have a fire-resistant common wall between living spaces and attached garages. (Government of Manitoba)
Casino Vote Proposed
BRANDON -- The province will work with the City of Brandon and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to move forward on the recommendations of a recent market study supporting the establishment of a First Nations-owned casino in the Brandon area, Attorney General Dave Chomiak said.
Dakota Protest Casino
BRANDON -- Chiefs of the Dakota Nations are threatening legal action against the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs for planning to open a casino in Brandon, which they claim as part of their territory. (CBC Manitoba)
Rail Yard Should Move: MP
WINNIPEG -- Canadian Pacific should move its rail yard out of the city core, says the local member of parliament. (CBC Manitoba)
Med Heads Hunted In Eire
THE PAS -- A three-member delegation from The Pas left for the Emerald Isle last week armed with an offer they hope potential doctors can't refuse. (CBC Manitoba)
Cable Car Shelved
WINNIPEG -- Committee members were intrigued but turned down a proposal to built an aerial tramway for commuters over the Red River. (CBC Manitoba)
Waste Under Review
GIMLI -- Options will be weighed to reduce the amount of recyclables going into the landfill. (Interlake Spectator)
New Logo In Use
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE -- A new logo for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities was put into use. (AMM)
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
Mayor Quits
HAY RIVER, NT -- The mayor quit office a month after a byelection was held for the entire council after a NWT Supreme Court ruling found the 2006 election was flawed. (CBC North)
City Lands Protected From Mining
WHITEHORSE, YK -- Yukon government officials said the city retains the right to protect lands from quartz mining after some areas were staked out for potential development. (CBC North)
City Budget Late
IQALUIT, NU -- The capital component of the city budget still needs to be clarified and will result in the budget being filed a month behind schedule. (CBC North)
Mayor Wants Back Doors
IGLOOLIK, NU -- The mayor has raised concerns that the lack of a second door in public housing units is a safety hazard. (CBC North)
Study Muddies Lagoon Debate
DAWSON CITY -- A study commissioned by a first nation band concludes the government's plan for a court-ordered sewage treatment lagoon is flawed. (CBC North)
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
City, Province Tie Knot
TORONTO -- The province and the City of Toronto have entered into a formal agreement to provide early consultation on matters of mutual interest. (Government of Ontario)
Funding Program Announced
TORONTO -- Funding through the province's Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative makes $300 million in additional money available to municipalities. (Government of Ontario)
Scent Policy Established
KINGSTON -- City hall has adopted a new policy that will protect the public from the scented cleaning and maintenance products used in municipal buildings. (Kingston Whig Standard)
Accused Mayor Faces Pressure
OTTAWA -- The image of Larry O'Brien being fingerprinted and photographed by police Monday once again raised concern at Ottawa City Hall that the mayor might not be able to perform his role properly. (National Post)
"Problem Child" Stripped Of Duties
PETERBOROUGH -- A malcontented councillor was the 10th one out when nine committee positions were appointed. (Peterborough Examiner)
Loans Lure Future MDs
BELLEVILLE -- Four more medical students have taken up the offer of $25,000 loans in exchange for five years service as a family physician in the city. (Belleville Intelligencer)
Discarded Flares Close Dump
BRANTFORD -- Police and city officials are investigating the discovery of discarded road flares that shut down the operations of the Mohawk Street landfill site. (Brantford Expositor)
Ombudsman Gets First Call
FORT ERIE -- The provincial ombudsman has launched its first inquiry of a closed session council meetings with a complaint filed against the town for a training session. (Niagara Falls Review)
CAO Leaves For Unknown Post
PORT COLBORNE -- The city is on the lookout for a new CAO after Robert Cotterill announced he was leaving his post for a job in another province. (Welland Tribune)
Experiential Pay Approved
WELLAND -- An arbitrator settled a three-year-old contract dispute between unionized firefighters and the city with a decision that awards the workers "3-6-9 experiential pay." (City of Welland release hosted on MuniMall)
Waste Manager Charged
COBOURG -- OPP allege that the county manager of waste operations failed to report more than $5,000 received for scrap metal. (Northumberland Today)
New Logo Unveiled
COLBORNE -- Township mayor Marc Coombs officially unveiled the township's new logo at the first monthly meeting of the chamber of commerce. (Northumberland Today)
Leaving On A Let Plane
WIARTON -- The Town of South Bruce Peninsula wants out of an airport management deal it inherited in a municipal amalgamation. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
Developers Threatens Departure
PORT ELGIN -- One developer has threatened to abandon proposed housing projects if the town implements development charges of $8,400 per unit. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
Councillor Gives Away Raise
DURHAM -- A township councillor lived up to his promise and gave away to local charities the raise he received. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
Retiree Takes Interim Post
BEAMSVILLE -- The retired CAO from St. Catharines took the interim post with the Town of Lincoln. (St. Catharines Standard)
Mayor Tackles Bad Guy
BARRIE -- Mayor David Aspen, a former police officer, helped the cops subdue a man in a downtown scuffle. (Toronto Star)
Deputy Position Proposed
BARRIE -- Saying the mayor is just collecting a pay cheque while riding out ethical difficulties, councillors proposed establishing a deputy's position to assume some responsibilities. (Barrie Examiner)
Rural Mayors Slam Province
BRAMPTON -- The province's growth plan is misguided, says a group of mayors representing more than a dozen small towns on the outskirts of the Greater Toronto Area. (Brampton Guardian)
Sidewalk Scavenging Banned
PEMBROKE -- The town passed a bylaw prohibiting people from scavenging scrap metal and furniture set out at the curb. (Pembroke Daily Observer)
Conciliation Ends At Impasse
LINDSAY -- City officials are accusing CUPE local 855 of demanding unrealistic wage increases after two days of conciliation talks ended. (Lindsay Post)
CAO Gone
MILLBROOK -- After nine months on the job, the CAO has departed with few details offered. (Lindsay Post)
Convicted Councillor's Seat Vacant
NORTH BAY -- A city councillor, who was convicted and sentenced to house arrest in a matter unrelated to her position, was officially turfed from council after having missed three consecutive months of meetings. (North Bay Nugget)
No Free Lunch, Or Parking
SAULT STE. MARIE -- City staff does not support a free parking downtown during the lunch hour. (Sault Star)
Council Challenges Own Bylaw
NOELVILLE -- French River council has decided to attempt to quash its own rezoning bylaw that would have paved the way for a proposed composting and recycling facility. (Sudbury Star)
Transit Boss Regina Bound
TIMMINS -- The superintendent for Timmins Transit has accepted the role of director for transit in Regina, SK., starting on March 3. (Timmins Daily Press)
Pool Chlorine Use Ended
TIMMINS -- Salt is being used to replace chlorine in the city pool. (Timmins Daily Press)
New CAO Hired
EXETER -- Roy Hardy took over the job of chief administrative officer in the municipality of South Huron, leaving a post in Thames Centre. (Exeter Times-Advocate)
Residents Want Separation
CHATHAM -- A resident's group opposed to amalgamation has changed tactics and will focus on pulling individual communities out. (Chatham Daily News)
Apartment Ordered Evacuated
WINDSOR -- Saying conditions at a Wyandotte Street apartment building, where residents have been using their ovens to keep warm since Sunday, pose "an immediate" health threat, the city ordered its evacuation. (Windsor Star)
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
Merger Talks After Election
ROTHESAY, NB -- Town council will not open discussions about amalgamation with neighbour Quispamsis until after the municipal elections in May. (CBC North)
Sewage Spilled Into Ocean
CARAQUET, NB -- Sewage that spilled into ocean has prompted fisheries officials to warn people against eating shellfish from the Bay des Chaleur. (CBC New Brunswick)
Red Light Cameras Considered
FREDERICTON, NB -- The city is considering the installation of red light cameras at it busiest intersections that will not only nab violators, but assess approach speeds and delay a signal change to avoid collisions. (CBC New Brunswick)
Green Programs Earn Kudos
FREDERICTON, NB -- Efforts in environmental-conscious programs earned the city a spot in the top seven in the world for "intelligent" communities, awarded by the Intelligent Community Forum, a non-profit think-tank that focuses on job creation and economic development in the broadband economy. (City of Fredericton)
Big-Boxer Wants Service Hookups
CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH, NL -- The mayor is looking to negotiate with a big-box retail developer to over come obstacles over who should pay for service connections to the 90-acre property. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Air Canada Probe Urged
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- The mayor of St. John's wants a public inquiry into Air Canada's service in the province to investigate complaints about the carrier's operations. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Charges Dropped
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- Charges have been withdrawn against a former City of St. John's director who had been accused of fixing parking tickets. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Larger Stores Taxed More
CORNER BROOK, NL -- Business and tax experts are warning Corner Brook city council they could be making a big mistake by increasing taxes for only one group of retailers in the city. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Oil Revenues Sought
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- Development and inflation pressure has prompted the mayor to encourage the province to establish a new municipal funding agreement. (CBC Newfoundland and Labrador)
Police Board Dysfunctional
WESTVILLE, NS -- An investigation has outlined problems of bullying, secrecy and political manipulation by the police commission in Westville. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Two Pools Too Many
HALIFAX, NS -- A consultant's report says the city can't afford to run two Olympic sized pools and must either replace the old one or forgo a new one. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Guardian Angels Refused
HALIFAX, NS -- Mayor Peter Kelly is siding with police in refusing to endorse a Guardian Angels chapter in the city. (CBC Nova Scotia)
Land Swap Earns More Attention
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- A prominent Liberal supporter has found the media spotlight again with his proposal to swap land with the province. (CBC Prince Edward Island)
$500K Deodorant Sought
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE -- The city estimates it will cost a half-million dollars to eliminate the stink wafting from the wastewater treatment plant, and it wants help from the province and Ottawa to fix it. (CBC Charlottetown)
Town Addresses Wind Bylaws
CORNWALL, PE ÐÐ The town is looking at its bylaws to address wind turbine development. (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:
-
2008 WinterLights Celebrations Symposium and Awards
-- Saint John NB Feb. 7-9, 2008.
More Events on MuniMall
See the MuniMall website for a much more comprehensive listing of regional municipal events.
Getting Wired
Virtual Tour
MAYERTHORPE, AB -- Panoramic videos have been posted as part of a virtual tour of the municipality featuring real estate for sale. (seevirtual360.com)
Financial Assistance Database Online
EDMONTON, AB -- Alberta municipalities now have access to a searchable database that provides information on financial assistance offered by the provincial government. The new database is a natural evolution of the Municipal Financial Assistance Handbook, which was originally developed in hard copy in 2006 and updated in 2007. (Government of Alberta)
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