Governance Posts

Mayor Kelli Hawtin: Support for North Battleford’s new direction

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Kelli Hawtin was never intimidated by the notion of serving as the mayor of North Battleford, Sask. After all, she served three consecutive terms as ...

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Mayor Cynthia Block: Breaking barriers, building trust in Saskatoon

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The role of mayor can seem daunting to those unfamiliar with the daily functions of a municipality. Mind you, this isn’t the case for Saskatoon ...

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Brampton helping lead charge in Team Canada tariff battle

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Municipal officials from across Canada have been stepping up for months in light of the tariff threats of U.S. President Donald Trump. Mayors and council ...

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FCM, local governments continue Trump tariff fight

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U.S. President Donald Trump imposed his long-threatened 25 per cent tariff on Canadians goods on March 4. Trump’s order, looming since his January inauguration, has ...

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Mayor Ken Johnston: Reflections on pragmatism, peace, gratitude

Back on Jan. 22, Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston gathered a group of people together to announce he wouldn’t be standing for re-election this fall. ...

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Vancouver’s Broadway Plan reflects transit-oriented development trend

Vancouver council recently approved updates to the city’s Broadway Plan that will see major construction developments along one of the city’s key roads. The council ...

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GTA councillors launch online campaign to fight Trump tariff threat

Canadian municipalities drive the national economy, much the same way their American counterparts do. And when something impacts communities in Canada, it will impact their ...

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NSFM president no stranger to local government pressures

Pam Mood is no stranger to a busy schedule. Mood, first elected to Yarmouth, N.S., town council in 2012, was re-elected last October for her ...

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Transparency Showcase 2.0 continues to champion open data

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario launched the inaugural Transparency Challenge in 2023. The goal of the showcase was to share innovative public approaches ...

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Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek: Municipal World’s Mayor of the Year

Local Government Awards Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek was chosen by Municipal World’s editorial team for her cool leadership during Calgary’s water emergency which began in ...

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Pickering CAO Marisa Carpino: Municipal World's CAO of the Year

Local Government Awards Marisa Carpino began her professional career at the City of Pickering, Ont., some 29 years ago as a fitness supervisor. Today, she ...

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Colleen James: Honesty key for women in the municipal space

2024 Women of Influence in Local Government Award Honourable Mention Colleen James is rather accustomed to the municipal space. After all, she has more than ...

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Diane Ballantyne: Championing a passion for local government

2024 Women of Influence in Local Government Award Honourable Mention Diane Ballantyne has been a dedicated public servant and educator for nearly three decades. But ...

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Saskatchewan municipal election: Fresh faces, and low turnout

Municipalities across Saskatchewan held elections last week to determine who will serve on local councils and school boards for the next four years. The elections ...

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Beaconsfield awarded for climate and seniors programs

In late October, the City of Beaconsfield, Que., was recognized for its Connecting Beaconsfield project. Carried out in collaboration with ICLEI Canada, Connecting Beaconsfield aims ...

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Victoria adopts bylaw to reduce single-use items

The City of Victoria has adopted a new bylaw that it says will significantly reduce the distribution of single-use items and make reusable plates, cups, ...

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SUMA calls for more funding ahead of Saskatchewan election

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) is calling on future provincial governments to increase and create new revenue streams for urban municipalities ahead of the ...

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New York could save millions shifting local elections

An evaluation from New York City’s Independent Budget Office (IBO) has found that the city could save more than $40 million (USD) every other year ...

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Delegates gather for UBCM’s 2024 convention

The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) is holding its annual convention this week in Vancouver. Around 2,000 delegates from municipal governments across the province are ...

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UBCM releases annual report ahead of 2024 convention  

The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) has released it’s 2024 annual report highlighting the association’s work over the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The report comes a ...

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AMO evolves into Ontario’s political Super Bowl

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) celebrated its 125th anniversary at its annual conference in Ottawa this month. Over the course of those 125 years, ...

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Local leaders, provincial voices, drive AMO 2024 conversation

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) 2024 Annual General Meeting and Conference convened today for the final day of its 2024 conference. The conference, ...

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Surrey to explore creation of city charter

The mayor of Metro Vancouver’s second biggest city has said she wants it to have a charter. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke recently tabled a motion ...

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AMO conference serves to bring municipal leaders together

More than 2,500 participants are expected to attend next week’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference, Aug. 18-21, in Ottawa. The conference, which will ...

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FCM president focuses on communication in community building

Geoff Stewart has always had a passion for serving his community. He has also proven eager in taking on the types of leadership roles that ...

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Mayor Laura Cabott: Loving the job, but ready for new opportunities

Laura Cabott loves almost everything about being mayor of the City of Whitehorse. But after some six months of deep thought and introspection, she decided ...

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Municipal World honours 2024 Women of Influence in Local Government

Sheilagh O’Leary, deputy mayor of the City of St. John's, Nfld., has been named as the 2024 honouree of Municipal World’s Women of Influence in ...

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Report finds Vancouver, Toronto housing “impossibly unaffordable”

A recently released report on housing affordability has found Vancouver is the least affordable place to have/own a home in Canada and the third least ...

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Mayor Sandra Masters: Running to address unfinished business

For several years now there has been a clear trend of incumbent mayors from across the country choosing not to run for re-election. This has ...

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Municipal funding, homelessness, emergency preparedness top FCM discussions

The annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) wrapped up last week, bringing together more than 3,100 attendees and delegates from over 2,000 ...

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Conference life helps overcome professional obstacles

Municipal employees face many obstacles that make it difficult for them to maintain essential services. But, like their elected counterparts, staff also face a constant ...

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Mayor Amanda McDougall-Merrill: Putting family ahead of city hall

Amanda McDougall-Merrill was the first woman elected as the mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) in 2020. That distinction is one she celebrates ...

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Mayor Charlie Clark: Making time for family, fresh perspectives

Late last year, Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark found himself talking to various people about his political future. At that point, he knew he wasn’t interested ...

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Feds promise money to address homelessness, toxic drugs

The federal government has proposed to allocate new funds to tackle the growing challenges of homelessness and drug overdose through the 2024 budget. Deputy Prime ...

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Reactions vary to Budget 2024 announcement

The federal government focused on housing and affordability in its release of Budget 2024: Fairness for every generation. These focal points drew a good deal ...

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Alberta proposes provincial approval of municipal-federal deals

The Alberta government has tabled a new bill in the legislature that would stop the province’s municipal authorities from making deals with the federal government ...

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Ontario municipalities respond to 2024 provincial budget

Ontario municipalities got a lot of what they were looking for in the recently released provincial budget. But while there was much to like, organizations ...

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N.B. municipalities adjust to reform, changing times

Municipalities across New Brunswick faced the same challenges as their counterparts across the country in 2023. But they also had to address something unique to ...

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Mayor Mike Savage: Right time for new ideas, new people

When Mike Savage thought about running for mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, he never imagined being in office for 12 years. But one thing ...

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Alberta premier pushing ahead with plan for municipal parties

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently said her government plans to introduce legislation allowing political parties at the municipal level in larger cities. In an interview ...

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Canadian and U.S. cities call for ceasefire in Gaza

A growing number of city councils in Canada and the United States are calling for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza as the civilian ...

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N.L. municipalities working for better fiscal stability

Municipalities across Newfoundland and Labrador faced the same challenges as their counterparts across the country in 2023. But they also had to deal with obstacles ...

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Austrian World Mayor Prize honouree celebrates citizens, local government

In the hours after the 2021 municipal elections in Graz, Austria, Elke Kahr’s mind was reeling. After all, the newly elected mayor was the first ...

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SUMA boss expects busy 2024 in Saskatchewan

Municipalities in Saskatchewan, much like everywhere, faced their share of challenges in 2023. But the bigger concern for the organization representing many of those communities ...

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U.K. group recognizes Dover mayor’s community service

When Tony Keats learned he had made the shortlist for the World Mayor Prize, he was quick to say how much of an honour it ...

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Unique 2023 sets up Manitoba municipalities for 2024 success

Municipalities across the country faced significant challenges in 2023. Pandemic recovery, affordability, public safety, and of course housing were all on the agenda of councils ...

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AMO looks at challenging 2023, ahead to promising 2024

Ontario municipalities faced many obstacles in 2023. The Greenbelt scandal dominated the headlines and led to changes that will directly impact local governments across the ...

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Retiring Yellowknife city manager eager for new opportunities

Sheila Bassi-Kellett has been involved in local government – in one capacity or another – for the past 25 years. But while she has loved ...

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Noise pollution impacting Canadian well-being

If you live in a busy urban area, you are probably accustomed to the frequent noisiness of cities: cars and trucks in rush hour traffic, ...

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Forging a path for next generation of local government women

Jyoti Gondek: Women of Influence Honourable Mention Jyoti Gondek made history in 2021 when she was sworn in as Calgary’s 37th mayor. She also became ...

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Housing the top issue for municipalities in fall economic statement

Billions of dollars in new spending on housing is the top item of interest for municipal leaders coming out of the federal government’s Fall Economic ...

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UBCM 2023: Decriminalization, wildfires highlight conference agenda

Decriminalization of possession of some illegal drugs and coping with the impact of wildfires were the top items discussed at the Union of BC Municipalities ...

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AMO delegates served a smorgasbord of announcements, surprise resignation

Steve Clark, Ontario’s Housing Minister, was front and centre at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in London Wednesday, setting a table for ...

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Affordable housing, need for new fiscal model dominate FCM meeting

Two intersecting issues dominated this past weekend’s Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) annual conference: the need for a new fiscal framework, and affordable housing and ...

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New Brunswick’s local governments transformed

Major changes are expected for local governments in New Brunswick. Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform Hon. Daniel Allain’s white paper on local ...

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Michelle Friesen brings Indigenous voice to Whitehorse council

Michelle Friesen is a big believer in the importance of representation. It is why her October election as the first Indigenous councillor on Whitehorse city ...

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Ann Mitchell recognized with Women of Influence in Local Government Award

Municipal World is continuing its 2021 awards celebrating women of influence in local government. The next to be recognized is Ann Mitchell, CAO for Lethbridge ...

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Local government leadership comes from the top

While their paths may have been different, two Canadian CAOs have learned similar career lessons Laura Johnston and Robert Hughes have rather similar careers. Both ...

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Highlights from UBCM 2021 Convention

This year’s convention included workshops on reconciliation and the summer heatwave Delegates from municipalities across B.C. are gathering for the five-day virtual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention that features workshops ...

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Arielle Kayabaga recognized with Women of Influence in Local Government Award

Municipal World is continuing its 2021 awards celebrating women of influence in local government. The next to be recognized is Arielle Kayabaga, City of London, ...

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Mayor Don Iveson: Appreciating the past, looking forward to the future

A direct connection to their constituents is one advantage municipal politicians often have over their federal and provincial counterparts. This is certainly true for Edmonton ...

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AMO forum offers insights into women’s leadership, COVID recovery

At a time when the call is to bring more women into the political realm, the reality is that too many are being pushed out. ...

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Net zero is a necessity

UN’s latest climate report demands strong action by local governments The IPCC released its Sixth Assessment Report titled Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis ...

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Ford promises greater pandemic support during AMO speech

Federal politicians are currently in election mode. But Ontario Premier Doug Ford was quick to follow their example with a stump-style speech of his own. ...

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Mayor Chris Spearman: Community success highlights 26 years of public service

Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman has given 26 years of his life to public service. That includes the past eight years as mayor. With that in ...

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Mayor Mike Savage: Driving national success through local government

Canadian politics is famous for its family connections. Names like Trudeau, Mulroney, and Layton have connections across the political spectrum. The name Savage could certainly ...

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Mayor Naheed Nenshi: Looking back on a local government legacy

Calgary is attempting to make a comeback from serious economic challenges. Those existing fiscal obstacles were worsened by the wholesale upheaval caused by the pandemic. ...

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How to build a winning advocacy strategy

Local governments often find themselves in need of a friend. Perhaps they are looking to push back against an ill-fitting federal program. Maybe they are ...

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Dawn Arnold recognized with Women of Influence in Local Government Award

Municipal World is continuing its 2021 awards celebrating women of influence in local government. The next to be recognized is Dawn Arnold, mayor of Moncton, ...

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Exercising political acumen at work

Four things new hires should know about navigating organizational politics Surviving and thriving in a politically charged environment can be challenging, certainly. But there are ...

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Leading the small army inside local government

Five ways council can help strengthen the staff team A municipal council has a small army of internal and external experts at their disposal. They ...

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COVID-19: Where the rubber meets the road

Local level takeaways and lessons learned The pandemic has placed many pressures on public officials to change the way they do things. Municipalities have had ...

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"Never let a good crisis go to waste"

Four key themes from the State of Canadian Municipalities Amid COVID-19 Survey It’s clear that the COVID-19 global pandemic was a crisis like no other ...

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2020: A year like no other

A festive look back at the challenges enforcing and legislating regulations COVID -19 In early March, provinces across Canada began to declare states of emergency. ...

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Systemic racism and unconscious bias in local government

Collective bias in government policies and practices unpacked at ICMA In the face of racial tension not seen in years, or even decades, the public ...

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Path to success as a city manager 

How to sustain a long-term partnership with council  For many first-time city managers, the early days of their careers are met with plenty of goodwill ...

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Think big about the future

12 quick tips for building a vision A vision is the opportunity to think big. Budgeting for infrastructure maintenance and expansion, courting a postsecondary institution ...

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Escape isn't an answer to recovery

Will Canadians (and municipalities) view their regions differently after COVID-19? In The Decameron, written by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio, seven women and three men moved ...

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OP ED: Governance in the age of COVID-19 and beyond

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in a host of areas quite apart from our health care system. It has affected all aspects of our ...

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Implicit bias uncovered

Implicit bias and microaggressions are terms that often trigger fear, anxiety, and defensiveness among employees as they try to make sense of what these terms ...

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Recognizing Carole Saab as a Women of Influence in Local Government

As part of its ongoing 2020 awards celebrating Women of Influence in Local Government, Municipal World is excited to recognize Carole Saab, CEO of the ...

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Understanding the CAO-Council relationship: Is this the key to a healthy, sustainable organization?

There have been some recent articles and research on the Mayor-Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) relationship and how that dynamic affects the success or failure of ...

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Strengthening local Indigenous-municipal relationships 

“We really need to break down the barriers around who Indigenous people are,” says Jennifer Dockstader, President of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres ...

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Municipal leaders applauded for COVID-19 response, but visions for Ontario’s recovery vary

The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic brought a spirit of bipartisanship to provincial politics as all parties worked together to stem the tide of ...

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Recognizing Lynn Dollin as a Women of Influence in Local Government Award

As part of its ongoing 2020 awards celebrating Women of Influence in Local Government, Municipal World is excited to recognize Lynn Dollin, Mayor of Innisfil, ...

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Relationship with municipal partners is more important than ever: Premier Ford 

Premier Doug Ford is no stranger to addressing delegates at the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) conference, but due to COVID-19, it was a gathering unlike any in the ...

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Achieving change for the better

It doesn’t matter whether or not we’re trying to avoid a problem or to achieve something better for ourselves, at the core of our decision ...

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Recognizing Opal Mauldin-Jones

As part of its ongoing 2020 awards celebrating Women of Influence in Local Government, Municipal World is next recognizing Opal Mauldin-Jones, City Manager in Lancaster, ...

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Eight strategies for building a culture of health and safety

No one knows an organization to the extent of the human resources department, and the role of HR is continually shifting and expanding. While HR ...

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Recognizing Sheila Bassi-Kellett

As part of its ongoing 2020 awards celebrating Women of Influence in Local Government, Municipal World is recognizing Sheila Bassi-Kellett. City Administrator in Yellowknife, Bassi-Kellett ...

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The blessings of being connected

I was anything but a nerd at school and university. Rather, I was most likely to be found standing at one end of the corridor ...

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Preparing for the journey to recovery

The pandemic is having profound impacts on every community, with municipalities facing an unprecedented financial crisis that could last for years. As a result, there ...

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Municipalities asking Ottawa for billions in emergency funding

With communities across the country facing the possibility of austerity measures, further layoffs, and potential tax increases, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is calling ...

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It’s an Emergency: Where are You?

I enjoy reading stories/books about World War Two. In particular, I enjoy the tales of heroes (both known and unknown), who fought the scourge of ...

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“What’s in it for me?” … and other bad attitudes

In the quest for success, attitude is everything. The right attitude can help us overcome great obstacles and hard times, and the wrong attitude can ...

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Whose agenda is it, anyway?

An agenda is described as “an itinerary for action.” It sets out what issues are to be discussed, and in what order of priority. In ...

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Three simple tools for building consensus

You’ve been to those dreadful meetings, the ones where the debate polarizes and neighbours start acting like enemies. The microphone becomes a weapon. Names are ...

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Are we at risk of becoming policy dinosaurs? Not on my watch.

Sink or swim. For more than a decade, a fundamental social change or “shift” capable of tossing the unprepared into the maelstrom has been growing ...

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Five keys to being a "player" politician

Anyone interested in being an effective political force should take stock of the attributes of “player” politicians. Fortunately, the vast majority of elected officials fit ...

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The dysfunctional council

When one councillor seems determined to make life miserable for the “team,” the absence of effective rules becomes glaringly evident. But that doesn’t mean dissent ...

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Constructing resilient communities at the local level

The motto of the 2019 Local Government Alumni Conference was “Caution! Change Ahead: Constructing Resilient Communities.” This was reflected in the presentations and conversations taking ...

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Local government leaders forge cooperative solutions

The theme of the 2019 Ontario Municipal Administrators’ Association (OMAA) Fall Workshop was “We’re All In This Together,” which was reflected in conversations taking place ...

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The Municipal Natural Assets Initiative: Protecting nature and delivering critical services

The Town of Gibsons, British Columbia, a coastal community of 4,400 people, was the first North American community to experiment with integrating natural assets into ...

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Municipal finance leaders look to navigate uncertain times

As Julie Stevens, president of the Municipal Finance Officers’ Association of Ontario (MFOA), stated repeatedly throughout the organization’s annual conference and AGM, uncertainty is common ...

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8 ways to manage change and drive success

At the simplest level, process improvement initiatives seek four primary outcomes within the context of good customer service and organizational efficiency and effectiveness. These outcomes ...

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10 steps to building trust that lasts

Look around any organization and you will find trust in action. There is some department, work unit, or team where people shine, ideas flourish, and ...

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AMO 2019: Strengthening the municipal-provincial partnership

Municipal leaders from across Ontario traveled to Ottawa to share best practices around service delivery, listen to competing visions for provincial-municipal relations, and offer retirement ...

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AMO 2019: Premier talks partnership while NDP, Liberal, Green leaders offer alternative perspectives

Approximately 2,000 municipal leaders gathered in Ottawa to share best practices around how to best deliver services to their citizens, but they also learned how ...

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The word on the street

I have written extensively on the need for a council to establish a healthy, positive relationship with its administration. Fortunately, this is the norm for ...

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Party leaders promise new federal-municipal relationship

During the 2019 annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), local government leaders collectively called for a new relationship between the federal government ...

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Big city mayors seek modernized federal relationship

The mayors of the nation’s largest communities are united in calling for a closer federal-municipal relationship to better serve Canadians. The meeting of the Big ...

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CAMA supports municipal administrators with new toolkit

Municipal administrators work at the crossroads of management and politics. Their job is a delicate balance between the formal and informal influences that shape decision ...

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Run it like a "business"

I have heard it said frequently and have read it in emails and articles: government would be in a whole lot better shape “if we ...

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Being a mayor is a tough job

Last fall, there were more than 1,000 municipal elections in seven provinces and territories across Canada. For those of us who delight in following municipal ...

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OSUM 2019 offers insights into Ontario’s municipal challenges

If small urban communities make up the body of the province, then the Ontario Small Urban Municipalities (OSUM) provides them with its voice. OSUM is ...

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Understanding the root causes of incivility, bullying, and toxic culture

Communities everywhere are seeing a sharp rise in incivility, bullying, and toxic culture. What's going on? by Diane Kalen-Sukra, author of Save Your City: How ...

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Regulatory changes prioritize municipal asset management planning

Municipal asset management is a significant topic for all communities, particularly as new regulations were adopted in 2017 that significantly increase commitments around planning for ...

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A rural perspective on Ontario’s regional government review

Regardless of where you are reading this, I’m sure you have all heard of Ontario’s Regional Government Review. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing ...

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Sex, Lies & Amalgamations ... the Sequel

Inspired by the movie Sex, Lies, and Videotape, my provocatively titled article in the February 1997 issue of Municipal World began by confessing that while ...

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Four ways to engage citizens in local government

In recent years, there has been no shortage of talk about the need for greater citizen involvement in decision making and the desire to increase ...

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Plan the work, then work the plan

Following municipal elections, new councils are soon after off and running, starting on their new term of office. After the inaugurations, municipal staff help orient ...

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5 steps for rebuilding trust

A previous Municipal World column on trust, and a webinar on the same topic, generated some interesting email exchanges. The most common follow-up question was, ...

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Council-CAO covenant

One of the most significant issues facing any council is how they interrelate with their chief administrative officer (CAO). While this issue varies from council ...

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Top 10 Feature Stories for 2018

It's no secret that there were many important issues on the table for Canada’s local governments in 2018. Municipal World’s top 10 online feature stories ...

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To pray or not to pray: A look at the SCC decision on opening prayers at council

Back in 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down a historic decision on the issue of prayer and municipal council meetings. The decision and ...

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The ship has set sail - who is steering?

As the political winds of change envelop city hall, how do we ensure that the focus of the new council is translated into the appropriate ...

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Canada’s 2018-2020 National Action Plan on Open Government

Canada’s fourth National Action Plan on Open Government – for 2018-2020 – launches 10 new commitments that continue to promote openness, transparency, and accountability. The ...

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What does a council do?

It seems to me that I have not addressed the basics of what a council does (or should do) in some time. Given that there ...

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The other climate change: How local political winds can alter the landscape following municipal elections

As the dawn of a new era begins to settle into the community, the recent municipal election results start to become rather apparent and begin ...

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Municipal World Report: Diverse Topics, Important Issues Headline OEMC 2018 Conference

The conference was set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing political situation in Ontario. And, as keynote speaker Liane Davey noted, change can have ...

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2018 Report: Candid look at top issues keeping Canada’s CAOs up at night

According to a new report, municipal Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) are a reflection of their country: vastly diverse. Even so, CAOs from across Canada share ...

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The Great Unknown: Questions remain as AMO delegates grapple with issues around marijuana legalization

October 17, 2018. Without hyperbole, that day promises to be one of the most significant and (potentially) challenging days for all orders of government. The ...

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When mayors and CAOs clash

I have often spoken of the ideal mix of personalities at the executive level of a municipality. It seems to me that having a strong ...

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Facing a tough reality

When to leave The fact that so many of our municipal colleagues will be elected soon in elections taking place in many jurisdictions across the ...

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Leveraging the power of LEAN in local government

Lean is not a new concept and Lean’s true beginnings are not agreed upon by scholars. Henry Ford is the most talked about pioneer of ...

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Who speaks for council?

I was asked recently about the legitimacy of a council member speaking to a community issue on which the council had not yet taken a ...

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Councillors behaving badly

Is there an epidemic of municipal councillors behaving inappropriately? In recent years, news stories have told increasing tales of offside behaviour by councillors and heads ...

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Innovation by design: Co-creating government

It starts with the people they are serving and ends with a service that is specifically tested and designed for them. Innovation by Design is ...

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Municipal council compensation

The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks, and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) has released a new research report: Municipal Council Compensation in Ontario. Drawing on data ...

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Power up the people who empower your community: clear roles for council

Why do municipalities and councils exist? Who created them and why? Municipalities are created under provincial statute and are built as corporations so they can ...

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Canada Green Building Council sets 2030 roadmap for $32B retrofit economy

New report urges private sector to take leadership role with government to fight climate change and create new jobs for Canadians A new report published ...

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Empowering women in local government

Recently, four strong female leaders in municipal government participated in a panel discussion – Empowering Women in Local Government – at the Western University Local ...

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The world to our doorstep: pending cannabis legalization an opportunity for Canada

The pending legalization of recreational cannabis is on the horizon, and it is already causing significant controversy in communities across the country. However, as Cam ...

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A council's "DNA"

A question frequently heard in the world of local government is this: Why does the council act as it does? This question sometimes refers to ...

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The changing dynamics of the municipal-federal relationship

The federal government understands that municipalities are central to Canada’s success – it is the communities where the country-wide initiatives are taking place. Recently, Clark ...

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The incivility continuum

Political incivility and what local governments can do. Civic engagement is a topic that is gathering considerable attention these days. But, what happens when public ...

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On being a CAO in Canada

I have long been concerned with the proposition that not only public servants, but also all citizens, are necessarily “independent moral actors.” The phrase derives ...

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Why 0% tax increases cost so much

Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain In 1986, I attended the Western Canada Water and Sewage Conference in Calgary. A comment by the keynote luncheon speaker, a ...

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New councillors: "keep your stick on the ice!"

10 Rules for Surviving Political Body Checks Now that you new councillors have a few meetings under your belt, I will wager 10-to-1 that you ...

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Union of BC municipalities names 2017-18 executive as 114th convention ends in Vancouver

Wendy Booth of East Kootenay Regional District acclaimed as new president Vancouver, BC (September 29, 2017): The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) membership has selected ...

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Call for Canadian case studies

Be a conversation starter to inspire innovation in local government! The Alliance for Innovation – a premier resource for emerging best innovative practices in local ...

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Who evaluates the CAO? (Part 2)

After discussing performance evaluation from the perspective of “why evaluate?” (May 2013); what should be evaluated? (June and July); we turned to the question of ...

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Who evaluates the CAO? (Part 1)

To recap this series of articles to date, we have examined the issue of a council evaluating its CAO by first considering the question: Why ...

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CAO evaluation criteria (Part 2)

In the May issue, we explored the question “Can a council evaluate a chief administrative officer?” In the June issue, the focus was on “What ...

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CAO evaluation criteria (Part 1)

Last month, we explored the question “Can council evaluate its chief administrative officer?” In this issue, we now turn the focus to “What should a ...

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Can council evaluate the CAO?

I hope to pen some thoughts around the issue of a council and its chief administrative officer (CAO) over the next few issues. I will ...

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When volunteering hinders

I am a great supporter of those who volunteer their time and talents in the service of others. These folks are the very backbone of ...

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It takes two to tango (part 1)

The above aged expression refers to the fact, as Pearl Bailey sang in 1952, that a relationship – like a marriage or like the tango ...

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