Municipal Affairs

Over the last twelve months, rural Canada has moved from the margins of national conversation to the centre of some of our biggest policy debates.  Earlier this year, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Rural Forum played an especially influential role—raising the voices of small communities, farm towns, northern and remote regions, and the municipalities that keep Canada’s economic engine...

Today we take a step back and look at the year that was — a year of challenge, change, and unmistakable movement across rural Saskatchewan. To do so we’re joined by the President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Bill Huber, to reflect on a defining year for rural communities and the leaders who serve them. 2025 was a year where rural issues pushed firmly into the provincial...

It’s been a year of transformation for Yukon communities — one marked by historic investments, renewed partnerships, and a growing sense of momentum.  From Dawson City to Watson Lake, and from the Village of Mayo to the capital in Whitehorse, municipalities saw unprecedented support aimed at strengthening the services and infrastructure that residents rely on every day. Major federal-territorial f...

2025 was anything but quiet in the Keystone Province.  Municipalities faced a complex mix of challenges: rising pressures on mental health response, growing concerns about public safety, vandalism and harassment aimed at local officials, and the day-to-day reality of delivering services with stretched resources.  We watched municipalities call loudly for legislative reform, seek stronger federal c...

We’re taking a deep dive into a year that has been anything but ordinary for rural Alberta. Over the past twelve months, Rural Municipalities of Alberta have found themselves at a crossroads — balancing real challenges with emerging opportunities. It’s been a year marked by sweeping legislative change, growing financial pressures, and a renewed spotlight on the essential role rural communities pla...

This year, SUMA has been hard at work — not just hosting events or conventions, but pushing for real change on behalf of urban municipalities.  As part of the 2025‑26 provincial budget cycle, SUMA welcomed major investments in public safety, infrastructure, northern roads and airports, and health services — moves that will materially improve quality of life across the province.  At the same time,...

Today, we’re taking a close look back at the economic outlook of 2025—and what it means as we head into 2026. 2025 has been a year of contrasts. Across Alberta, municipalities have faced the ongoing impacts of global economic uncertainty—rising inflation, volatile markets, and the ever-present chatter about a potential global recession.  At the same time, many communities have shown remarkable res...

In this edition of Municipal Affairs, we’re turning our focus to one of the most pressing issues facing communities across Alberta: seniors and community housing.  In 2025, the landscape of affordable and supportive housing continues to challenge municipalities large and small, from the bustling urban centres to the tight-knit rural communities where seniors are seeking to age in place. At the cen...

Today, we focus on a remarkable moment of international collaboration.  The Local Government Association of Zambia joined delegates from across Manitoba and beyond at the 2025 Association of Manitoba Municipalities Convention, held from the 25th to the 27th of November in Winnipeg. This year’s convention carried the theme “Leadership in Motion,”  a timely call for pragmatic leadership—leadership t...

Today, we turn our attention to a growing crisis in northern Saskatchewan—one that is being felt most acutely in La Loche and its surrounding communities. It’s a crisis rooted not in a single issue, but in a chain reaction: an overstretched RCMP, rising crime rates, strained local services, and a lack of the basic supports needed for residents and professionals alike to live and work safely. In La...

From healthcare and infrastructure to municipal funding, cell service, and RCMP policing costs, municipal leaders from every corner of Manitoba spent three days tackling the issues shaping communities across the Keystone Province. We wanted to hear directly from mayors about the challenges unfolding in their own communities—and how they’re preparing to address them as they enter the final year of...

From healthcare and infrastructure to municipal funding, cell service, and RCMP policing costs, municipal leaders from every corner of Manitoba spent three days tackling the issues shaping communities across the Keystone Province. We wanted to hear directly from rural leaders about the challenges unfolding in their own communities—and how they’re preparing to address them as they enter the final y...

More than 700 delegates from cities, towns, and rural communities across Manitoba gathered at Winnipeg’s RBC Convention Centre last month for the annual Association of Manitoba Municipalities Convention.  From healthcare and infrastructure to municipal funding, cell service, and RCMP policing costs, leaders spent three days debating the issues shaping communities across the Keystone Province. And...

The annual Association of Manitoba Municipalities convention wrapped up in Winnipeg last week, leaving municipal leaders with a renewed sense of momentum. Delegates spent three busy days debating resolutions, celebrating community achievements, and laying the groundwork for the year ahead—one that will ultimately lead Manitoba into its next municipal election. More than 700 delegates attended, rep...

Alberta is often defined by its oil and gas sector—but a very different kind of energy is taking centre stage.  The spotlight on nuclear power, and small modular reactors, or SMRs is happening in communities across Alberta. Unlike traditional nuclear facilities, SMRs are designed to be compact, factory-built, and scalable.  Supporters say they’re cheaper, safer, and far quicker to construct.  And...

Today we turn our focus to northwestern Alberta, where a major decision in the post-secondary sector is rippling through an entire region.  Students and residents in the town of Fairview are still reeling after Northwestern Polytechnic announced plans to close its satellite campus.  The news broke late on October 29th, following a vote by the institution’s board of governors—leaving many in the co...

Last week, more than twelve hundred delegates from communities across Alberta gathered in Calgary for what Alberta Municipalities calls the province’s largest municipal gathering. For three days, municipal leaders, administrators, and local government partners met face-to-face, sharing ideas and charting a path forward for their communities. This was the first meeting of municipal leaders since th...

Last week, more than twelve hundred delegates from communities across Alberta gathered in Calgary for what Alberta Municipalities calls the province’s largest municipal gathering. For three days, municipal leaders, administrators, and local government partners met face-to-face, sharing ideas and charting a path forward for their communities. This was the first meeting of municipal leaders since th...

In the Village of Alberta Beach, Alberta, a new council term is underway — bringing together a mix of fresh faces, and familiar faces.  Among those is Mayor Tara Elwoo.  She joins her colleagues in leading the village forward over the next four years.  We sat down with Mayor Elwood to talk about leadership, priorities for the term ahead, and what lies ahead for the community of Alberta Beach. This...

Last week, more than twelve hundred delegates from communities across Alberta gathered in Calgary for what Alberta Municipalities calls the province’s largest municipal gathering. For three days, municipal leaders, administrators, and local government partners met face-to-face, sharing ideas and charting a path forward for their communities.  Alberta’s two largest cities — Calgary and Edmonton — w...

After a week filled with handshakes, campaign conversations, and interactions with more than 1,200 delegates, Grande Prairie Councillor Dylan Bressey emerged as the newly elected President of Alberta Municipalities. Bressey secured 62.7 per cent of the vote, defeating Penhold Mayor Mike Yargeau, who received 29.6 per cent, and Communities First Calgary Councillor Andre Chabot, who earned 7.7 per c...

Next week, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities is gearing up for its annual Fall Convention—this year, under the banner Leadership in Motion.  And the timing couldn’t be more significant. With just one year until the next municipal elections, communities across Manitoba are heading into a period of transition. AMM is challenging municipal leaders to stay bold, stay forward-thinking, and tak...

Today, we’re turning our attention to one of the most anticipated events on the municipal calendar. This November 20th to 22nd, municipal leaders from across Newfoundland and Labrador will gather in Corner Brook for the 75th annual MNL Conference, Trade Show, and AGM.  The Corner Brook Civic Centre will serve as the main hub for what promises to be the largest assembly of municipal sector leaders...

This week, more than twelve hundred delegates from communities of every size have come together under one roof — right here at Calgary’s TELUS Convention Centre — for what Alberta Municipalities calls the province’s largest municipal gathering: the 2025 Alberta Municipalities Convention and Trade Show. It’s a week where local leaders share ideas, debate issues, and set the direction for the year a...

This week, more than 1,200 delegates from across Alberta have descended upon the TELUS Convention Centre in downtown Calgary for what’s being called the province’s largest municipal gathering — the Alberta Municipalities 2025 Convention and Trade Show. From councillors and mayors to administrators and municipal staff, representatives from communities big and small are here to learn, connect, and c...