Welcome to 'Municipal Affairs”, I'm your host, Chris Brown. This morning after a 6-month short pause on final approvals for large renewable energy projects, Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Affordability and Utilities, Nathan Neudorf announced the strict new rules for Renewable energy developments in Alberta including but not limited to: The Province will no longer permit renewable generation developments on Class 1 land (soils with no significant limitations in use fo

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I'm your host Christopher Brown. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is raising concerns regarding the profound staff shortages plaguing healthcare facilities across rural regions of the province. Joining us for this crucial conversation is Ray Orb, President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. SARM, as the voice representing rural Saskatchewan, has been actively advocating for solutions to address the

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I'm your host Christopher Brown. In recent years, the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) has been conducting surveys to assess the landscape of municipal property taxes, particularly in relation to the oil and gas industry. The latest findings, as of December 31, 2023, are concerning to RMA. A staggering $251.8 million of municipal property taxes remain unpaid by oil and gas companies, despite their legal obligation to do so. Now this marks t

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I'm your host Christopher Brown. In today's episode, we're focusing on wildfire preparedness in Western Canada as we gear up for the upcoming Wildfire season, set to officially begin on March 1st. With wildfires becoming more frequent and severe, municipalities are facing big challenges in protecting their communities and resources. To help us understand this issue better, we're joined by Shawn McKerry, the Dean of the Emergency Training Centre

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I'm your host Christopher Brown. In today's episode, we're following up on a story from earlier this month regarding the Town of Westlock Flagpole and Crosswalk Bylaw. In a closely contested vote Thursday Night, residents of the Town of Westlock opted to pass the proposed Crosswalk and Flagpole Bylaw. With a narrow margin of 663 votes in favour to 639 against, the decision mandates the removal of the pride crosswalk painted earlier in June and ce

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I'm your host Christopher Brown Today we embark on a new chapter of our program. While we typically focus on local governance issues, we recognize the importance of the broader political landscape on municipal affairs. That's why, starting today, we're introducing a special feature segment where we sit down with federal, provincial, and territorial leaders to delve into their perspectives on municipal governance, and how their levels of governmen

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I'm your host Christopher Brown. Today we are going delve into an upcoming event shaping the landscape of Westlock, Alberta. The February 22nd Town Wide Vote on the "Crosswalk and Flagpole Bylaw.” Before we talk about the future we need to bring you up to speed on how we got here: Last Spring, In the rural community of Westlock which is located 90kms north of Edmonton, was asked by the Thunder Alliance, a group that supports members of the LGBTQ

Welcome to Municipal Affairs, I’m Your Host Christopher Brown. In the face of soaring inflation and rising energy costs, municipalities in Alberta have been searching for innovative ways to enhance energy efficiency and trim costs. The challenge lies in implementing these upgrades, often not happening due to financial constrainst. In a recent press conference, the province of Alberta unveiled a groundbreaking initiative that aims to empower both rural and urban communities.

Welcome to 'Municipal Affairs”, I'm your host, Chris Brown. This is the first installment of our three-part series dedicated to unravelling the dynamic and pivotal role of Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) in the intricate landscape of municipalities. In today's episode, we delve deep into the heart of municipal governance, examining the responsibilities, challenges, and evolving significance of the CAO. Joining us in this insightful discussion are two esteemed guests: Ken