Municipal Affairs

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, Earlier this month, more than 1,000 delegates from urban municipalities across Saskatchewan convened in Saskatoon for the 2025 Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) Convention. The annual event serves as a cornerstone for collaboration, celebration, and forward-thinking among municipal leaders—this year, especially significant following the 2024 municip...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs . My name is Christopher Brown, and this is Canada Votes 2025: The Debates . Week four of the federal campaign is behind us—and with it, the advance polls are now officially open. The race is tightening, and for voters across the country, decisions are starting to take shape. But before ballots are cast, there was a crucial moment this week—the debates. Over two nights...

taking a step back to gain insight from those who have been in the trenches and now find themselves on the other side of public office. In this episode, we’re speaking with three former municipal leaders who dedicated years to serving their communities and have since transitioned into private life. We’ll hear their reflections on the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned from their time in off...

Welcome back to Municipal Affairs. Today we’re talking about a strategy that was supposed to secure Alberta’s energy future—but may instead be shifting burdens onto rural communities. Earlier this month, the Government of Alberta released its long-awaited Mature Asset Strategy, or MAS—a plan that, according to the province, is meant to support the viability of older oil and gas wells, keep compani...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs: Canada Votes 2025. The Third Week of the 45th General Election has come to a close. and with only a few short weeks until voters head to the polls, on Monday, April 28th the landscape is focusing in on the last few days. To help us break down the state of the race, we are joined today by political commentator, SKoop.ca Editor, and Earnscliffe Strategy Principal, Dale...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs Last month, municipal leaders from across Canada travelled to Washington, D.C., to take part in a tri-lateral conference with Mayors and Municipal Leaders from The United States and Mexico. Their mission? To strengthen relationships and push back against the ongoing trade escalations. Among the Canadian delegation was Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick President...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. Change is in the air for the growing community of Lanigan, Saskatchewan. As families put down roots and the population continues to rise, the town is taking a crucial step to support its youngest residents. A brand-new daycare facility is on the horizon, promising to ease the pressure on working families and help drive the local economy forward. At the heart of this d...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs: Canada Votes 2025. The Second Week of the 45th General Election has come to a close. and with only a few short weeks until voters head to the polls, on Monday April 28th the landscape is all over the map. To help us break down the state of the race, we are joined today by political commentator, Toronto Sun Columnist, and former Liberal Advisor to Jean Chretien, Mr. Wa...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs In this episode, we’re focusing on one of the most significant gatherings for municipal leaders in Saskatchewan—the SUMA Convention. Every Spring, Saskatchewan Urban Municipal delegates from across the province come together for this annual general meeting. This year, from April 13th to April 16th, the convention will host elections for the SUMA Presidency. Which will...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. Last week, municipal leaders from across Canada travelled to Washington, D.C., to take part in a tri-lateral conference with Mayors and Municipal Leaders from The United States and Mexico. Their mission? To strengthen relationships and push back against the ongoing trade escalations. Among the Canadian delegation was Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw, who took the o...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs In this episode, we’re focusing on one of the most significant gatherings for municipal leaders in Saskatchewan—the SUMA Convention. Every Spring, Saskatchewan Urban Municipal delegates from across the province come together for this annual general meeting. This year, from April 13th to April 16th, the convention will host elections for the SUMA Presidency. Which will...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs: Canada Votes 2025. As Canadians gear up for the 45th General Election scheduled for April 28th, the first week of campaigning has officially come to a close. With only a few short weeks until voters head to the polls, the political landscape is shifting fast. To help us break down the state of the race, we are joined today by political commentator Dave Cournoyer, a le...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. Today, in our Alberta Municipalities roundtable discussion will delve into crucial topics affecting Municipalities in the Province of Alberta. Joining us for today’s discussion are esteemed guests from Alberta Municipalities: President Tyler Gandam, Mayor of the Town of Wetaskiwin, and Director Krista Gardner. In today’s discussion, we will chat, about the most recent...

Last week Saskatchewan Finance Minister Jim Reiter unveiled the Saskatchewan 2025-26 budget with a modest but noteworthy forecasted surplus of $12 million. It’s a cautious yet significant achievement in a time marked by economic uncertainty, as an ongoing trade war with the United States continues to cast a shadow over the province's financial outlook. Revenues are projected to hit $21.1 billi...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, Today, we’re tackling a challenge that municipalities have been grappling with for years—housing. Across the Northwest Territories, finding adequate, affordable, and sustainable housing remains a pressing concern. Municipalities are on the front lines, working to address housing shortages, aging infrastructure, and the unique challenges of building in the North. At th...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, All eyes in Manitoba are on March 20th, when the provincial government will table its much-anticipated budget. For municipalities across the province, this is more than just numbers on a page—it’s about securing the funding needed to maintain infrastructure, support essential services, and drive local economic growth. Municipalities are the backbone of Manitoba, respo...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, In just a few hours on Wednesday, March 19th, the Saskatchewan government will unveil its provincial budget—a critical moment for municipalities across the province. Local leaders are watching closely, hoping for the funding and support they need to maintain infrastructure, deliver essential services, and plan for future growth. Saskatchewan’s municipalities play a vi...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, Last week, over 1,400 delegates from 269 of Saskatchewan’s 293 rural municipalities gathered in Saskatoon to mark a major milestone—the 120th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, better known as SARM. It was a convention filled with policy debates, discussions on the future of rural Saskatchewan, and keynote addresses from Premier Scott...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, Last week, municipal leaders from Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec traveled to Washington, D.C., to take part in the National League of Cities conference on behalf of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Their mission? To strengthen relationships and push back against the ongoing trade escalations between Canada and the United States—disputes that have real cons...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, Today, we turn our focus to a growing financial crisis impacting rural Alberta—one that has persisted for seven years and continues to strain local governments. The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) has once again sounded the alarm, revealing that as of December 31, 2024, oil and gas companies have left at least $253.9 million in municipal property taxes unpaid. T...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, Today, we’re returning to a story that has been unfolding over the past few months—a state of emergency that continues to impact the people of Norman Wells. With the Mackenzie River at record-low levels and spring thaw fast approaching, the community is facing dire straits. Essential supplies, transportation, and infrastructure are all at risk, leaving residents and l...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. Last week, more than 400 municipal elected officials and senior administrators gathered at Alberta Municipalities’ Spring Municipal Leaders’ Caucus in Edmonton. This annual event is a pivotal moment for municipalities across the province — a time to come together, share perspectives, and engage in critical conversations with provincial cabinet ministers about the chal...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. In todays episode, we’re bringing you insights straight from the heart of local governance. More than 400 municipal elected officials and senior administrators recently gathered in Edmonton for Alberta Municipalities’ two-day Spring Municipal Leaders’ Caucus—an event where local leaders came together to tackle key issues, share perspectives, and engage directly with p...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. We turn our attention to an issue that is resonating in communities across Canada—bail reform. Municipalities are stepping up, making their voices heard, and demanding change. Here in Manitoba, the calls for reform have reached a breaking point. It was the tragic death of 28-year-old Kellie Verwey in Portage la Prairie that ignited a movement. Verwey, a dedicated city...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, On November 13th, the people of Saskatchewan headed to the polls to elect new mayors, councilors, and reeves—leaders who will guide their communities through the challenges and opportunities of the next four years. For those newly elected, the first 100 days in office can be both exciting and overwhelming. It’s a period of rapid learning, relationship-building, and se...