Welcome to Municipal Affairs. I'm Christopher Brown. Today, we take you to the heart of Downtown Calgary, where this past weekend a significant event unfolded at this year's Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) convention. The convention, a pivotal gathering for municipal leaders across the nation, had a speech from Parry Sound-Muskoka MP and Conservative Party of Canada Housing Critic Scott Aitchison. As hundreds of municipal leaders, city planners, and local governme

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. I'm Christopher Brown. Today, we take you to the heart of Downtown Calgary, where this past weekend a significant event unfolded at this year's Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) convention. The convention, a pivotal gathering for municipal leaders across the nation, had a keynote address by none other than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As hundreds of municipal leaders, city planners, and local government officials gathered in the bustl

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. I'm Christopher Brown. This past weekend Municipal leaders from across Canada gathered in Calgary for the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) convention, and today we have some exciting news from the fourth day of the convention. In a tightly contested race, Kathy Valentino, the Deputy Mayor of Thompson, Manitoba, has been elected as the 3rd Vice President of the FCM. Valentino emerged victorious over two formidable candidates: Cou

Welcome to Municipal Affairs. I'm Christopher Brown. This past weekend Municipal leaders from across Canada gathered in Calgary for the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) convention. The four-day conference was full of workshops, speeches from federal leaders, and networking with municipal leaders from coast-to-coast-to-coast in Canada. On the last day of the four-day convention, we spoke to numerous presidents of municipal organizations in Canada about what t

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I'm your host Christopher Brown. Today, we delve into a topic that often goes unnoticed: the relationship between municipal councils and their sole staff member, the Chief Administrative Officer, or CAO. Our guest today is none other than Ann Mitchell, a CAO with years of experience in Ontario and Alberta, and an expert in municipal governance. Ann's groundbreaking thesis, "The Crucial Nature of the CAO-Council Relationship," sheds light on this

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I’m Christopher Brown. In today's episode, we have an important episode ahead of a major event in the world of Municipal Governance and Advocacy. Today we are honoured to have a one-on-one interview with Carole Saab (SAH-AB), the CEO of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). The FCM is at the forefront of empowering local governments across Canada, striving to enhance the quality of life for residents. From tackling the housing crisis a

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I’m Christopher Brown. Today, we have a special guest, Kyle Kasawski, the Alberta NDP's Municipal Affairs Critic, who will help us unpack the implications of several recent legislative moves by the United Conservative Party (UCP) government. Earlier this week Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP passed Bill 18, 20, and 21. All of which have been under fire for a series of legislative actions that critics argue centralize power and undermine democra

Welcome to 'Municipal Affairs”, I'm your host, Chris Brown. In this episode, we're diving into the upcoming election for the 3rd Vice President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). The FCM, as many of you know, serves as the national voice for municipal governments, advocating for policies and initiatives that address the diverse needs of communities from coast to coast to coast. And with the annual FCM conference just around the corner, all eyes are on the bu

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I'm your host Christopher Brown. Today, we have a special focus on a podcast dedicated to the Toronto Municipal political scene— The MuniciPALS. The MuniciPALS is hosted by the dynamic duo of Matthew King, a seasoned podcaster and Host of This Time In History, and Philip Mills, a former Toronto Council candidate in 2021. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, offering insightful commentary on municipal affairs in