Two provinces. Two budgets. Two visions for the future. In recent months, both Alberta and Saskatchewan have tabled their provincial budgets, documents filled with promises, priorities, and projections meant to guide their respective paths forward. For many, budget season signals optimism… a renewed sense of direction… maybe even a little hope for what lies ahead. But what happens when your community doesn’t fit neatly into just one of those visions? Enter Lloydminster, a pla

Welcome to Cross Border Interviews.  Our goal is to create meaningful municipal conversations that inform, connect, educate and strengthen communities from coast to coast to coast in Canada.  For this edition of Cross Border Interviews, we are honoured to welcome Councillor Seth Wagner from the Town of Claresholm, Alberta. The Town of Claresholm has built up the necessary infrastructure to service the community today and well into the future. Claresholm offers the opportunity

Welcome to another edition of The Political Trenches Local Government At Work. Today on the show, we’re discussing the Alberta Government's new universal Code of Conduct for Municipal Councils, The City of Prince George is looking at an AI facility, and then, when is it appropriate to take a call from the Premier without overstepping your council? Then later in the episode, we heading South fo the 49th, to Connecticut, to chat with Plainville, CT Town Manager Michael Paulhus

Across Canada, municipal politics is often described as the most accessible form of government... the level closest to the people. It’s where community meets decision-making, where local leaders step up to shape the places we call home. But increasingly, it’s also becoming a space where harassment is not just present — it’s persistent, personal, and, for many, escalating. From hostile emails and social media attacks to intimidation in public spaces, the tone of political enga

Today, we’re diving into a story that has shaken the halls of Niagara’s regional government and ignited debates across the province of Ontario, and possibly even Canada. It’s a tale of letters, leadership, and the future of local democracy. Just a few weeks ago, Niagara Region Chair Bob Gale sent a letter to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Rob Flack, calling for what he described as ‘urgent municipal governance reform’ in Niagara. His proposal? Consolidat

Welcome to Cross Border Interviews. Our goal is to create meaningful municipal conversations that inform, connect, educate and strengthen communities from coast to coast to coast in Canada. For this edition of Cross Border Interviews, we are honoured to welcome to the show, from the City of Grande Prairie Alberta Councillor Chris Thiessen Grande Prairie is located in Northwestern Alberta, in the heart of the Peace Region. It is the largest city North of Edmonton, Alberta's ca