Municipal Affairs

Welcome to Municipal Affairs . This past week, Canada’s capital welcomed over 2,000 municipal leaders from across the country for the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tradeshow and Convention. From bustling cities to remote rural communities, delegates gathered in Ottawa to share ideas, confront challenges, and work toward a stronger future for municipalities across Canada. The agenda...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs . This past week, Canada’s capital was the centre of attention for local governments from across the country. More than 2,000 municipal leaders gathered in Ottawa for the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tradeshow and Convention — a landmark event that brings together communities of all sizes to share ideas, elevate concerns, and help shape the national con...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs . This past week, over 2,000 municipal leaders from across the country gathered in the nation’s capital for the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tradeshow and Convention. Held in Ottawa, the convention provided a vital forum for local government leaders to come together and tackle pressing issues affecting communities from coast to coast to coast. From call...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. Earlier this month, over 150 municipal leaders from across Northern British Columbia came together in the coastal city of Prince Rupert for the annual North Central Local Government Association Convention. It was a gathering of shared purpose and diverse perspectives, where elected officials and staff from towns, cities, and regional districts met to tackle the pressi...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. In Regina, federal eyes turned westward as the newly appointed Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, made his first official stop in Saskatchewan. With a fresh mandate under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government, Hodgson wasted no time getting into the thick of Prairie priorities — meeting face-to-face with Deputy Premier Jim Reiter to address a...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs Last month, we had the opportunity to travel to Haines Junction, Yukon, to take part in a major milestone — the 50th anniversary of the Association of Yukon Communities. Over three days, more than 150 delegates from across the territory gathered to talk about shared challenges, common goals, and the future of their communities. One theme that came up again and again wa...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs Last month, we made the trip to Haines Junction, Yukon, to take part in a big milestone — the 50th anniversary of the Association of Yukon Communities. Over three days, more than 150 delegates from all corners of the territory came together to talk about the challenges they’re facing, the common ground they share, and the future they want to build. With a territorial e...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. New names. New faces. New titles. That was the headline coming out of the Alberta Government on Friday afternoon as Premier Danielle Smith unveiled her latest cabinet shuffle — and once again, all eyes were on who would take the reins at Municipal Affairs. Earlier this week, Ric McIver officially stepped down from the ministry to assume the role of Speaker of the Legi...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. Once again, change is sweeping through Alberta’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs — a department that has seen no fewer than 18 different ministers in the last 25 years. That kind of turnover raises more than just eyebrows — it raises questions about long-term stability and direction. To understand the scale of this, we need only look at the track record. The leadership...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs Last month, we had the chance to travel to beautiful Haines Junction, Yukon, to take part in a major event — the 50th anniversary of the Association of Yukon Communities. Over three days, more than 150 delegates from across the territory came together to talk about the challenges they’re facing, the successes they’re seeing, and the common ground they share. Delegates...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs Last month, we had the chance to travel to beautiful Haines Junction, Yukon, to take part in a major event — the 50th anniversary of the Association of Yukon Communities. Over three days, more than 150 delegates from across the territory came together to talk about the challenges they’re facing, the successes they’re seeing, and the common ground they share. Delegates...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs Last month, we had the chance to travel to beautiful Haines Junction, Yukon, to take part in a major event — the 50th anniversary of the Association of Yukon Communities. Over three days, more than 150 delegates from across the territory came together to talk about the challenges they’re facing, the successes they’re seeing, and the common ground they share. Delegates...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. Last month, we travelled to Haines Junction, Yukon, to take part in a major milestone — the 50th anniversary of the Association of Yukon Communities. Over three days, more than 150 delegates from across the territory came together to share stories, tackle challenges, and find common ground on the issues that matter most to their communities. After the convention wrapp...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, The Alberta government is once again zeroing in on local governance, unveiling significant changes through two key pieces of legislation: Bill 50, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, and Bill 54, the Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2025. These bills aim to reshape how municipalities operate, how local politicians are held accountable, and how they transitio...

At last month’s Southgrow Economic Summit in Lethbridge, Alberta, We were on hand and moderated a live recording of Municipal Affairs featuring Meghan Brennan, Communications Manager for the Town of Taber, and Ben Prolux of Catalyst Communications. The session focused on practical strategies for strengthening municipal communications, building public trust, and effectively engaging residents durin...

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. It began in uncertainty. Political gridlock in Ottawa. A country still reeling from economic tremors and diplomatic tensions, with U.S. President Donald Trump once again targeting Canada’s sovereignty and trade with blistering rhetoric. Many wondered whether Canada’s political centre could hold. But by the time the dust settled on election night 2025, the result was n...

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 Earlier this month, more than 1,000 delegates from urban municipalities across Saskatchewan gathered in Saskatoon for the 2025 Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) Convention. The annual event was a vibrant mix of discussion, celebration, and vision-building, as leaders from across the province came together to chart a course forward following the 2024...

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...