When we think about municipal government, it's easy to focus on what happens in our own town or city. But the reality is that many of the biggest challenges facing communities today don't stop at provincial borders. Whether it's housing pressures, homelessness, emergency preparedness, or the growing demands on local governments, municipalities across Canada are grappling with many of the same issues. Last month, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Municipal and Community

Today, we're talking about one of the organizations that works behind the scenes to strengthen municipal government across the province: the Government Finance Officers Association of Alberta, or GFOA Alberta. While residents may not always think about municipal finance, it's at the heart of everything a municipality does—from building roads and maintaining infrastructure to delivering essential services and planning for the future. GFOA Alberta brings together finance profes

Last week, we dove into the realities of working together among three municipalities in Northwestern Alberta. Today on Municipal Affairs, we are diving into the same topic but from a British Columbia Perspective. From municipal partnerships with the province and the federal government to the connection between local councils and the people they serve, strong relationships are at the heart of good governance. Whether it's debates over funding, infrastructure, libraries, or sha

In municipal politics, relationships shape everything. They influence how governments work together, how communities grow, and how challenges get solved. From municipal partnerships with the province and the federal government to the connection between local councils and the people they serve, strong relationships are at the heart of good governance. One relationship that deserves more attention is the one between urban and rural municipalities. Over the past couple of years,

Il y a un peu plus d’un an, en quittant Ottawa après le congrès de la Fédération canadienne des municipalités, je me suis fait une promesse : apprendre la deuxième langue officielle du Canada, le français. Je voulais me lancer un défi et atteindre un objectif : réaliser un jour une entrevue entièrement en français pour Municipal Affairs. Je ne savais pas si j’en étais capable, mais après douze mois de cours, de pratique, d’erreurs et d’encouragements, ce jour est enfin arrivé

The Calgary Stampede is known as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Alberta, Canada, and around the world to celebrate Alberta's western heritage and culture. But beyond the rodeo and midway, the Stampede has also become one of the province's most important opportunities for municipal advocacy. At this year's Alberta Premier's Calgary Stampede Breakfast at McDougall House in downtown Calgary, municipal leaders met with pr

Every year, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention brings together local leaders from communities large and small, creating an opportunity to discuss the issues that matter most to Canadians at the local level. But municipal leaders aren't the only ones paying attention. Among the attendees at this year's FCM Convention was Alberta Senator Paula Simons, who spent time listening to municipal officials from across Alberta and throughout Canada as they shared the c

Imagine spending decades not only focused on the issues facing your own community, but also championing the needs of municipalities from coast to coast to coast. For one delegate at this year's Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention in Edmonton, that wasn't just a commitment—it was a way of life. For years, Silverton, British Columbia Councillor Leah Main has been a respected voice in municipal politics. Beyond serving the residents of her own village, she has helpe

The Calgary Stampede is often called the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Alberta, Canada, and around the world to celebrate Alberta's unique culture and western heritage. But it's also a time when municipal leaders from every corner of the province come together to connect, collaborate, and celebrate Alberta. At this year's Alberta Premier's Calgary Stampede Breakfast at McDougall House in downtown Calgary, municipal elect