This year Ontario's municipal election is shaping up to be remembered less for debates over taxes, roads, or even housing than for two forces that, at first glance, seem unrelated but are increasingly intertwined: data centres and artificial intelligence. One represents the physical infrastructure of the digital economy, with sprawling campuses consuming vast amounts of electricity and water while promising jobs, tax revenue, and economic development. The other represents the

This week, we're taking our conversation beyond Alberta's borders—but not beyond the issues that matter most here at home. Municipal governments don't operate in isolation anymore. The challenges facing our communities—from housing affordability and infrastructure to economic development, public safety, emergency management, energy, water, and trade—are increasingly shared across provinces, territories, and even international borders. That's why it's so important for municipa

Ready or not, the race to Ontario's next municipal election is officially underway. This month marks the beginning of the 2026 municipal election calendar, with nominations now open for candidates across the province. That process continues until August 21st, when nominations close and the campaign officially kicks into high gear. From that point forward, Ontarians can expect to see campaign signs on street corners, candidates knocking on doors, and local issues taking centre

This week, a major funding announcement has municipalities across Alberta taking notice. The federal and Alberta governments have signed a new agreement that will unlock more than half a billion dollars in federal funding to help communities invest in critical water and wastewater infrastructure—projects aimed at supporting new housing development across the province. Standing together in Red Deer, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith announced the Canada-Alb

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

As I travel across Canada and speak with municipal leaders from St. John’s to Victoria, from Whitehorse to Windsor, I continue to hear the same question whenever people discover that I am a municipal affairs reporter based in Alberta. It comes up repeatedly, almost without fail: “Give us your honest thoughts about what is happening with Alberta separatism.” I always appreciate the question because it shows just how much attention Alberta’s political conversation is receiving

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,