Municipal Alberta
CAO Gets Teary Send-Off
PEACE RIVER -- Member of Peace River town council said their final goodbyes to CAO Kelly Bunn, and the former senior administrative officer of Fort Smith, NT, Roy Scott has taken over. (Peace River Record Gazette)
Cities Twinned
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- Rotary groups in the cities of Grande Prairie and Mazatlan, Mexico, initiated a fraternal bonding between the communities and was highlighted by a recent visit of a Mexican delegation. (City of Grand Prairie)
Air Quality Monitoring Axed
GRANDE PRAIRIE -- Councillors cited a lack of enforcement power as their reason for not renewing membership with a non-profit group that monitors air quality. (Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune)
Air War Being Fought
BONNYVILLE -- Landing rights are being sought at Edmonton's City Centre Airport but it wants flights to go to the international airport. (Cold Lake Sun)
Property Standards Dicey
MAYERTHORPE -- It took more than 20 amendments to reach consensus on a new property standards bylaw. (Mayerthorpe Freelancer)
Town Passes On Tobacco Enforcement
WHITECOURT -- The Town of Whitecourt will not be applying to get authorization for its bylaw officer to enforce the provinceÕs Tobacco Reduction Act.
Hybrid SUV Approved
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- It'll cost a little more, but the city will add a hybrid SUV to its fleet. (Fort record)
Downtown Planner Hired
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- Council hired a planner to work on its downtown area redevelopment plan. (Fort Record)
Emergency Notification Database: Municipally Excellent Practice
FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- Through an application to the Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission, the city was able to acquire access to the 9-1-1 database for names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone in the community to establish a Community Emergency Notification System. It's an excellent practice recently posted on MEnet, Alberta's Municipal Excellence Network. (www.menet.ab.ca)
Secret Visitors Make Evaluations
EDMONTON -- Small Alberta communities can take advantage of the First Impressions Community Exchange program where visitors will make incognito visits and record their observations with an eye to increase tourism and investment potential. (Alberta Urban Municipalities Association)
Minister Remains
EDMONTON -- Ray Danyluk will head the new streamlined municipal affairs ministry in Ed Stelmach's first post-election Cabinet. Yvonne Fritz was named the minister of housing and urban affairs. (Government of Alberta)
Capital Tab: $25.8B
EDMONTON -- The City of Edmonton needs $25.8 billion for capital projects in the next 10 years and has funding sources for less than one-third of that, city council was told. (Edmonton Journal)
Town Asked To Back Loan
HINTON -- The Hinton Golf Club wants the town to back an $830,000 loan because it owns the land. (Hinton Parklander)
Medical Transport Eyed
JASPER -- Transportation for medical patients referred outside of town for medical treatments could be organized by the municipality in the near future. (Jasper Booster)
Census To Track Growth
SHERWOOD PARK -- Municipal census takers will be going door-to-door to in an effort to track population growth in Strathcona County. (Sherwood Park News)
Mayor Becomes MLA
DRAYTON VALLEY -- A byelection will be held to replace Mayor Diana McQueen who won a seat in the provincial election. (Drayton Valley Western Review)
AAMDC Adds One
NISKU -- Crowsnest Pass became a full voting member of the Association of Municipal Districts and Counties and the 69th in the fold. (AAMDC)
Curb-Side Recycling Okayed
LEDUC -- Council approved a user-fee increase to pay for curb-side blue bag recycling. (Leduc Representative)
Proceed Cautiously On Housing
LACOMBE -- The Town of Lacombe should proceed -- but with caution -- in its plan to become developer in a 300-acre land deal with Canadian University College to tackle LacombeÕs extreme shortage of affordable housing, the mayorÕs task force on housing has recommended. (Lacombe Globe)
Braced For Tax Loss
WETASKIWIN -- They've known it was coming for a while now and those at the County of Wetaskiwin are confident they have done what is needed to cushion the loss of about $1.8 million in tax revenue when an Esso plant shuts down completely. (Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser)
Ski Hill Sale Offered
RED DEER -- The owners of a ski hill who would like to retire have offered to turn over the operations to the city instead of selling it to developers. (Red Deer Advocate)
Town Appeals M.D.'s Approval
OKOTOKS -- Okotoks municipal planner says a proposal to allow two businesses in a country residential areas is inconsistent with the intermunicipal development plan and will appeal the Municipal District of Foothills' approval. (Western Wheel)
Cameras Keep Vigil
CALGARY -- Two dozen surveillance cameras will be installed in the downtown core to keep a watch out for crime. (CBC)
Water Issues Prompt Plan
CALGARY -- In response to increased expansion pressures and servicing requirements, the Municipal District of Rocky View has initiated a process to prepare a strategy for managing both water allocation and development within the Hamlet of Langdon. (Municipal District of Rocky View)
Warplane Sale Nixed
CALGARY -- One of the last Second World War de Havilland Mosquito bombers left in Canada will remain in a Calgary warehouse for now, a city council committee decided. CBC)
Bedtime Boom Blues
CALGARY -- Time-pressed labourers are hammering away at all hours of the night and the city has fielded a huge increase in the number of noise complaints. (Calgary Journal)
M.D. Holds Job Fair
CALGARY -- The Municipal District of Rocky View is holding an open call for seasonal workers with its second annual job fairs initiative. (Airdrie Echo)
Province Funds Extra Costs
STRATHMORE -- The Town of Strathmore will receive $3.7 million to cover costs incurred by the Ministerial Order on waste water for trucking away sewage and supplying bottled water to a First Nation downstream. (Strathmore Standard)
Best Water In 50 Years
BANFF -- Environment Canada says wastewater plant upgrades have resulted in a marked improvement in the quality of the watershed. (Banff Crag and Canyon)
Wastewater Data Unreported
CANMORE -- Data measuring the nitrogen levels in the townÕs wastewater went unreported for a year, Canmore town council was told. (Canmore Leader)
Developers Smile On Levies
COCHRANE -- Few spoke about the proposed off-site levy bylaw, but developers said they found it to be fair and logical. (Cochrane Times)
Lot Prices Set
NANTON -- The town has set prices on 85 lots in a subdivision with an average price of $84,500. (Nanton News)
Budget Battle Goes On
CROWSNEST PASS -- Controversy over the Crowsnest Centre has resulted in an impasse on the budget. (Crowsnest pass Promoter)
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.
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Municipal Saskatchewan
Urban Reserve Flourishes
SASKATOON -- An urban Native reserve established 20 years ago has served as a template for others. (CBC)
City Sells Subdivision
MOOSE JAW -- The city has made a deal to sell a 600-home subdivision to a developer. (Moose Jax Times Herald)
It's A Hard Job, Kids Say
MOOSE JAW -- Two Grade 7 students spent a day with the mayor and offered their thoughts about the experience. (Moose Jaw Times Herald)
City Notice Snubbed
PRINCE ALBERT -- The city was notified that the Diefenbaker Bridge would be closed for a short time while it was prepared for an over-height load. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Demolition Deadline Made
PRINCE ALBERT -- The city has set a deadline for the demolition of a hospital building that's been vacant since 1997. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
Employee Confesses
PRINCE ALBERT -- A city employee has confessed to the theft of more than $12,000 from the financial services department. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)
New Minister Meets Constiuents
SASKATOON -- The new minister of municipal affairs was expected to meet with delegates at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention. (Municipalities Today)
Tax Rebate Tightened
MEADOW LAKE -- The town tightened its commercial tax rebate that protects against assessment increases because of construction to include only properties in the downtown area. (Meadow Lake Progress)
Saskatchewan Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in Saskatchewan, MuniMall recommends starting with the Municipal Directory System, maintained by Saskatchewan Government Relations.
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Municipal Manitoba
AMM Briefs Leaders
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE -- The Association of Manitoba Municipalities will provide an overview of priority issues as it holds its annual series of meetings with mayors, reeves and CAOs between March 13 and 26. (Association of Manitoba Municipalities)
Hotels Pan New Tax
WINNIPEG -- The city's draft operating budget proposes a five per-cent hotel tax. (CBC)
Pay-By-Phone Made Permanent
WINNIPEG -- After a four-month pilot project, the city launched a permanent pay-by-phone system for meters around the city. (CBC)
911 System Adopted
FLIN FLON -- Hardly anybody new the emergency numbers by heart, so the town made the switch to the 911 system. (CBC)
Voters Reject Casino
BRANDON -- Voters rejected the idea of a casino in the second plebiscite in five years. (CBC)
Rec Land Purchased
CARMAN -- The expansion of recreational facilities is the current plan for 21 acres of land recently purchased by the Town of Carman and Rural Municipality of Dufferin. (Carman Valley Leader)
Water Costs Opposed
ST. GEORGES -- Many residents turned out to voice their opposition to a $7 million proposal to build a water treatment plant. (Lac Du Bonnet Leader)
Satellite Office Opens
WINKLER -- A planning district satellite office will soon be opening in the city, allowing local builders to apply for permits, obtain information and access other services they require for their development and building projects and subdivision plans. (Winkler Times)
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.
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Municipal North
Premier Bows To Pressure
DAWSON CITY, YT -- Premier Dennis Fentie said he will respect the wishes of Dawson City residents who rejected a sewage lagoon at the town's entrance, instead directing engineers to find an alternate location. (CBC)
City Demands Environmental Assessment
YELLOWKNIFE, NT -- City councillors are demanding an environmental assessment of the Giant Mine cleanup plan, even though reviewers determined last month to let the plan pass without that assessment. (CBC)
Cemetery Grows
WHITEHORSE, YT -- City staff presented its cemetery expansion plan following several months of public consultation. (CBC)
Town Picks At Tax Bones
WATSON LAKE, YT -- The town of Watson Lake, Yukon, is going to court to recover more than $100,000 in unpaid taxes from the operators of a sawmill that shut down nearly a decade ago. (CBC)
Communities Seek Recognition
BATHURST INLET -- Nunavut's two smallest settlements, with a combined, year-round population of about 25, according to Peterson, want to be legally recognized as communities by the Department of Community and Government Services so they can qualify for funding. (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.
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Municipal Ontario
No Tickets, But Towed
OTTAWA -- Parked vehicles in the way of snowplows were towed to streets that were already cleared, not the impound lot, and owners were not ticketed. (CBC)
Ministers Election Role Probed
OTTAWA -- Federal Environment Minister John Baird has been called to appear before a House of Commons committee looking into whether he meddled in Ottawa's last municipal election. (CBC)
Comments Earn Libel Notice
OSHAWA -- An Oshawa councillor is in hot water after bad mouthing a downtown methadone clinic on local radio. (durhamregion.com)
Battery Deposit Sought
TORONTO -- Batteries and beer bottles may soon have something in common -- deposit-return systems across the city. (Toronto Star)
Budget Due March 25
TORONTO -- The first budget in Premier Dalton McGuinty's second mandate will be released March 25. (CBC)
Most Commuters Still Drive
TORONTO -- The number of people who rely on cars to get to work in the Toronto area has decreased only slightly since the last census was released five years ago, Statistics Canada says. (CBC)
Surpluses Earmarked
TORONTO -- The provincial government is proposing legislation that would dedicate additional surpluses to Ontario's communities. (Government of Ontario)
Treasurer Moves On
FORT ERIE -- The town treasurer, Margaret Neubauer, will leave her post to head the finance department of the City of Guelph. (Ridgeway Herald)
City Targets Urinaters
ST. CATHARINES -- City police are cracking down on people who urinate in public places in the downtown's busy bar area. (St. Catharines Standard)
FCM Books 2014 AGM Venue
NIAGARA FALLS -- The Federation of Canadian Municipalities booked its 2014 annual meeting in the yet-to-built convention centre. (Niagara Falls Review)
Volunteer Shovellers Rebuffed
CORNWALL -- "Union issues" caused the city to rebuff a group of volunteers who wanted to shovel snow away fro fire hydrants in their neighbourhood. (Cornwall Standard Freeholder)
Sewer Bylaw Overhauled
COBOURG -- A series of amendments to the sewer bylaw restricts what is acceptable to flush away. (Northumberland Today)
Perks Policy Delayed
SUDBURY -- In the wake of fireworks over preferential access to rock concert tickets for city councillors, a promised policy has been delayed. (Sudbury Star)
Wind Turbines Impressive
CHATHAM -- Citing minimal noise and increased tourism, wind farms are nothing to fear, say two councillors after a recent road trip to Port Burwell. (Chatham Daily News)
Criticism Prompts Resignation
MEAFORD -- Meaford council has decided to appoint someone to replace former councillor Gunter Neumann, who resigned last week saying he was fed up with public criticism. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
Complaint Filed Against Accountant
MEAFORD -- Meaford's financial consultant is under investigation by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario after a complaint by the CAO. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
City Sues Over Cleanup
OWEN SOUND -- The city is taking legal action against a Waterloo-based environmental firm that carried out the cleanup at the site of the new public health unit offices. (Owen Sound Sun Times)
Mind Own Business, City Told
TIMMINS -- In a very polite and respectful manner, Wabun Tribal Council executive director Shawn Batise told members of Timmins city council to stay out of expressing opinions on hydroelectric power projects in this area. (Timmins Daily Press)
Residential Development Favoured
PETERBOROUGH -- Encourage residential development in the downtown and try to create an institutional and academic hub in the city's central area, consultants say in a city report. (Peterborough Examiner)
Strike End Rejected
LINDSAY -- During a four-hour in-camera council meeting Tuesday night in Lindsay -- their first meeting in over a month -- City of Kawartha Lakes council voted unanimously to reject Canadian Union of Public Employee's (CUPE) Local 855's proposal to end the five-week old strike. (Lindsay Post)
Another Charged In Scuffle
COBOURG -- A judge has ordered that the complainant also be charged in a scuffle that occurred between a resident and a developer at a town council meeting. (Northumberland Today)
Fees Ding Church Fundraisers
BRANTFORD -- Church suppers may become a mere memory because the city wants extra helpings. (Brantford Expositor)
CAO Delays Retirement
LAURENTIAN VALLEY Š Laurentian Valley council has accepted chief administrative officer Darrel RyanÕs offer to delay his retirement until the township hires his permanent replacement. (Pembroke Daily Observer)
Ex-Candidate Turfed From Meeting
WELLAND -- Tony Mete was escorted out of Welland council chambers by police last night, after demanding to have his say regarding a city report recommending hiring four new staff members. (Welland Tribune)
City Gets Water Fine
PEMBROKE -- The City of Pembroke has been fined $13,000 plus a victim fine surcharge after pleading guilty to violating the Safe Drinking Water Act. (Pembroke Daily Observer)
Region Pilots Battery Collection
THOROLD -- Niagara Region plans to test-drive a battery recycling program that could keep millions of the tiny, toxic cylinders out of local landfills. (St. Catharines Standard)
Mayor Panned In Poll
KINGSTON -- An unscientific internet poll found that most residents think the mayor is doing a sub-par job, but better than the U.S. President. (Kingston Whig-Standard)
Ontario Municipal Contact Info
To track down municipal officials in this province, MuniMall recommends starting with Community Profiles, maintained by Ontario Economic Development.
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Municipal Atlantic
Athletics Track Pondered
CORNER BROOK, NL -- City council members aren't sure they should support a $700,000 expenditure for a running track as it prepares for the provincial summer games. (CBC)
Council Changes On Horizon
ST. JOHN'S, NL -- There could be a wholesale change in council representation as councillors eye a shot at the mayoralty in the wake of Andy Well's resignation and the decision to call a byelection. (CBC)
Physician Money Defended
DIGBY, NS -- The warden of Digby County is brushing aside criticism that the municipality has started a bidding war for rural doctors with its $187,000 offer to two physicians who are married to each other. (CBC)
Public Transit Harms Special Service
WINDSOR, NS -- A specialty bus service has lost business to a new public transit system and wants municipalities to subsidize the service. (CBC)
Transit Use Edges Up
HALIFAX, NS -- Public transit is making modest strides in Halifax, as slightly more people are choosing a greener option for their work commute. (Metro Halifax)
Building Bylaw Not Enforced
HALIFAX, NS -- A Dartmouth councillor is raising concerns that a bylaw obliging derelict building owners to fix up their properties isnÕt being enforced. (Metro Halifax)
Munis To Be Graded
FREDERICTON, NB -- The Halifax-based Atlantic Institute for Market Studies is expanding its municipal report card program into New Brunswick thanks to a partnership with the New Brunswick Chamber of Commerce. (Fredericton Daily Gleaner)
Tax Transparency Sought
FREDERICTON, NB -- New Brunswickers may find it easier to fight rising property tax bills if the government adopts recommendations Ombudsman Bernard Richard. (Woodstock Bugle Observer)
Cyclo-Tourism Encouraged
SUSSEX CORNER, NB -- Village council agreed in principle to endorse the creation and promotion of bicycle ways on rural roadways. (Kings County Register)
Judge Okays Appeal Extension
SUSSEX, NB -- A judge granted the Village of Sussex Corner an extension to appeal a subdivision approval by the Town of Sussex because its lawyer erroneously thought the deadline was later. (Kings County Register)
Cop Switch Sought
GRAND FALLS, NB -- Town councillors want to look at eliminating the municipal police force in favour of Mounties in part to retain the RCMP district office. (Woodstock Bugle Observer)
Water Fails National Test
SAINT JOHN, NB -- The manager of the city's drinking water says that when Health Canada releases its newest drinking water guidelines some time in the next two months, the city will fail that national test. (Saint John Telegraph-Journal)
Fear Impedes Brownfield Development
MONCTON, NB -- A conference will be held March 26 to provide an overview of the development potential that exists with brownfield properties. (Moncton Times and Transcript)
Municipal? É What's That?
MONCTON, NB -- A small unscientific newspaper poll found that most people have little knowledge of the role and function of municipal government. (Moncton Times and Transcript)
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.
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Current Events
The Next 30 Days:
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The 23rd International Conference on Solid Waste Technology and Management
-- Philadelphia, PA March 30-April 2, 2008.
More Events on MuniMall
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Getting Wired
County Wireless Tower Approved
CLAIRMONT, AB -- The County of Grande Prairie gave its approval to invest up to $260,000 in the construction of wireless internet towers. (County of Grande Prairie release)
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