Last week, the spotlight was on the 2026 Alberta Provincial Budget—and this week it's on what it means for the preventive social services that quietly hold our communities together. In what has been described as an extremely difficult fiscal year, the Government of Alberta has chosen to maintain funding for Family and Community Support Services—known as FCSS—at $105 million. That funding supports municipalities and Métis Settlements across Alberta, helping deliver programs fo

Over the last few weeks, there has been one certainty in Alberta politics. It was predictable, telegraphed, and discussed openly by policy analysts, municipal administrators, and elected officials alike. And yet, when it finally happened, it was met with a chorus of surprise, frustration, and—most troublingly—political theatre. On February 27, the Government of Alberta released its long-awaited provincial budget. For most Albertans, provincial budgets are distant documents, f

The date is approaching. The numbers are being finalized. And across Saskatchewan, municipalities are waiting to see what the provincial budget will deliver. Budgets are more than balance sheets — they are statements of priorities. They determine whether communities can invest in infrastructure, maintain essential services, and plan for the future. And this year, those decisions come at a time when many local governments are facing rising costs, growing demands, and increasin

Across Alberta, a growing number of mayors and councillors are sounding the alarm. They say a major shift in how policing is funded could dramatically reshape local budgets—and ultimately, what residents pay in property taxes. Last month, the Government of Alberta introduced a recalculation to its police funding model. On paper, it’s a formula change. But on the ground, municipal leaders say it’s something far more serious. Some communities are now facing increases of up to 3

For the past several weeks, I have had conversations with mayors across Alberta. They represent communities of every size. Some lead cities have thousands of residents. Others serve villages where everyone knows each other by name and where council meetings still feel like town halls rather than formal proceedings. Despite their differences, they all share one message, delivered with varying degrees of urgency but remarkable consistency. Their municipalities are under financi

Saskatchewan is home to 27 of Canada’s 34 critical minerals. We hold the world’s largest deposits of potash and some of the highest-grade uranium anywhere on the planet. From fertilizer that feeds global agriculture to uranium that fuels clean nuclear power, this province plays an outsized role in Canada’s clean growth economy — and much of that activity happens in rural communities. But as the country moves toward a lower-carbon future, questions are being raised about how f

A decision out of Ottawa is sending shockwaves across rural Saskatchewan. The federal government has confirmed that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will close its satellite research farms in Scott and Indian Head — part of broader budget reductions that have already seen roughly 665 positions cut nationwide and nearly 1,050 employees receive notices in January. But for Saskatchewan, this is about more than staffing numbers. The Indian Head Research Farm was among the first f

Across Canada, communities are facing a defining challenge of our time: how to deliver reliable, affordable energy while meeting ambitious climate goals and strengthening local economies. As we move toward a net-zero future, the conversation is no longer just about reducing emissions—it’s about building resilient infrastructure, supporting industry, and creating meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities. Nuclear energy is emerging as a powerful part of that conversa

On May 30th, 2026, members of the Conservative Party of British Columbia will choose a new party leader. Leadership contests are not only about party politics—they are also about ideas, priorities, and competing visions for the future of the province. In the weeks leading up to the vote, candidates are outlining their plans for British Columbia, including how they see the role of municipalities and regional districts across the province. Local governments play a central role