Municipal Affairs

Today, we’re focusing on a small but significant part of Alberta’s municipal landscape—Summer Villages.  Once seen primarily as seasonal communities, these municipalities are increasingly operating year-round, facing many of the same responsibilities and pressures as larger urban and rural centres. Across Alberta, Summer Villages are managing growth, maintaining infrastructure, and responding to e...

In Northern Saskatchewan, municipal leaders are navigating challenges that are as complex as they are urgent. From housing shortages and highway infrastructure concerns, to funding pressures, houselessness, and growing mental health and addiction challenges, communities across the North are working to address serious issues — often with limited resources and, in some cases, ongoing barriers to mov...

For decades, Saskatchewan has powered itself on resourcefulness — drawing strength from the ground beneath the communities built around it and us. Now, the province is considering its next major chapter in energy: nuclear power. SaskPower is moving through a multi-year planning process aimed at bringing a small modular reactor online by the mid-2030s, with a commercial decision expected by 2029. W...

In rural Saskatchewan, the issues facing municipalities don’t slow down — and neither does the advocacy happening behind the scenes. From concerns around the use of strychnine on farms, to the growing conversation around critical minerals and resource development, to an upcoming trip to Ottawa to bring Saskatchewan priorities directly to the national stage, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Mu...

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association’s annual convention has come to a close, bringing together municipal leaders from across the province for four days of discussion, collaboration, and planning for the future. From large cities to small towns, the focus remained on building stronger, more resilient communities—while giving delegates the opportunity to connect, share ideas, and addre...

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association’s annual convention has come to a close, wrapping up four days of conversation, collaboration, and forward-looking planning in Regina. Municipal leaders from across the province came together with a shared goal—finding ways to strengthen communities of every size.  From infrastructure and funding to healthcare and regional cooperation, the discussi...

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association’s annual convention has wrapped up, closing out four days of discussion, debate, and collaboration among municipal leaders from across the province. From larger urban centres to smaller communities, the focus this year was clear—working together to build stronger, more sustainable municipalities for the future.  The convention once again provided a...

For communities across Canada, reliable infrastructure isn’t just a priority—it’s essential.  And for more than two decades, one federal program has quietly helped make that possible. The federal Gas Tax Fund—now known as the Canada Community-Building Fund—delivers over $2 billion every year to more than 3,600 municipalities, supporting roughly 4,000 infrastructure projects annually. From public t...

Manitoba’s economic future doesn’t begin in boardrooms or big city towers—it begins in its communities. Across rural Manitoba, local leaders, businesses, and municipalities are shaping the province’s economic story in real time. From main streets to manufacturing floors, from agricultural innovation to emerging tourism opportunities, the strength of Manitoba’s economy is deeply connected to the st...

Sylvan Lake is growing—and fast.  What was once a small lakeside town has steadily evolved, with its population climbing from just under 16,000 in 2021 to nearly 18,000 by the end of 2025. With that growth came a familiar question for many Alberta communities: when does a town become a city? In 2022, Sylvan Lake’s Council first explored that possibility and chose to remain a town. This year, the c...

Across Canada, municipal politics is often called the most accessible level of government — the place where community voices meet real decision-making. But as we explored in Part One of “Is Harassment Getting Worse?” Series, that space is changing. Harassment is no longer occasional — for many women in municipal leadership, it’s becoming a constant backdrop to public service. In this second part o...

The numbers are sinking in. The details are being finalized. And across Alberta, municipalities are taking a closer look at how February’s provincial budget is really affecting them—beyond the headlines, beyond the announcements, and into the day-to-day reality of running a community. Because while budgets are crafted in the legislature… their impact is felt on the ground. That reality was front a...

Two provinces. Two budgets. Two visions for the future. In recent months, both Alberta and Saskatchewan have tabled their provincial budgets, documents filled with promises, priorities, and projections meant to guide their respective paths forward. For many, budget season signals optimism… a renewed sense of direction… maybe even a little hope for what lies ahead. But what happens when your commun...

Across Canada, municipal politics is often described as the most accessible form of government... the level closest to the people. It’s where community meets decision-making, where local leaders step up to shape the places we call home. But increasingly, it’s also becoming a space where harassment is not just present — it’s persistent, personal, and, for many, escalating. From hostile emails and s...

Today, we’re diving into a story that has shaken the halls of Niagara’s regional government and ignited debates across the province of Ontario, and possibly even Canada. It’s a tale of letters, leadership, and the future of local democracy. Just a few weeks ago, Niagara Region Chair Bob Gale sent a letter to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Rob Flack, calling for what he descri...

Today, we’re diving into a program designed to strengthen the very foundation of municipal leadership: the Governance Essentials for the Municipal Sector, or GEMS, offered through the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. Municipal governance is more than passing bylaws or balancing budgets—it’s about understanding the nuances of leadership, stewardship, and accountability. Whether you...

Today, we’re diving into a story that has sparked debate not just in the mountain town of Canmore, but across Alberta about the scope of municipal authority and the role of taxation in shaping communities. For several years, Canmore has faced a housing crunch. Sky-high real estate prices, limited rental availability, and an influx of second-home owners have put pressure on local residents and muni...

It’s a budget that, from a rural Saskatchewan perspective, sends some positive signals—but also sets the stage for a broader conversation about whether long-term support will match long-term need. Today, we look at what Budget 2026 means for rural communities across Saskatchewan, where local governments are watching closely for support in the areas they say matter most: agriculture, infrastructure...

It’s a provincial budget that highlights record investments—but also raises new questions about balance, fairness, and the future of municipal funding. Today we turning our focus to Budget 2026–27 in Saskatchewan, and what it means for the communities that deliver the services people rely on every day. At the centre of the conversation is Municipal Revenue Sharing—now at a record $392.4 million. I...

It’s a budget that the Government of Saskatchewan says is about protecting communities—while still planning for growth. Today we are taking a closer look at Budget 2026–27, which commits more than 700 million dollars in direct provincial support to municipalities across the province. That’s an increase of nearly 47 million dollars over last year—about seven percent—and it comes as communities cont...

Today’s conversation sits at the intersection of some of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—facing Alberta’s municipalities right now. With Budget 2026 now on the table, many local leaders are raising concerns about what it means on the ground. From shifting tax burdens onto property owners, to stalled infrastructure funding, to the absence of increased investment in prevention programs like...

We’re turning our focus to the relationship between the provincial government and Saskatchewan’s municipalities — and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for communities across the province. Joining us for a one-on-one conversation is Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister of Government Relations, Erika Ritchie. Ritchie was appointed to the role by Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck and repr...

For decades, highways have shaped the way communities grow. They determine where businesses invest, how goods move, and how people connect across rural and urban Alberta. But not every highway receives the same attention, and in northeast Alberta, one particular corridor has become the focus of renewed political pressure. Highway 28 runs through the heart of the region, linking communities, indust...

Over 400 delegates from around the world gathered in Calgary for the 3rd SMR Nuclear Canada Summit. As Canada accelerates toward a nuclear-powered future, communities are emerging as the true catalysts of progress. From rural regions seeking economic diversification, to municipalities planning long-term infrastructure, to First Nations advancing energy sovereignty and equity participation, the fut...

For years, Alberta has built its reputation on a simple promise: low taxes, strong communities, and a government that lives within its means. But across this province, a growing number of local leaders are asking a difficult question: low taxes for whom—and at what cost? Last week, the release of Budget 2026 by the Government of Alberta has sparked an immediate and emotional reaction from mayors a...