Welcome back to The Political Trenches: Local Government at Work. I'm glad you've joined us because today we're doing something a little different. Over the past six and a half months, local governments across Canada have been dealing with no shortage of challenges—from housing and infrastructure to public safety, governance, budgets, and the changing relationship between municipalities, provinces, and the communities they serve. Rather than choosing this episode's topics our

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

To borrow, or perhaps semi quote, Jim Prentice during Alberta's 2015 provincial election, "Mayors, it's time to look in the mirror." I know this probably will not make me popular in every council chamber across Alberta, but it is time someone said what a lot of municipal leaders are quietly admitting behind closed doors. Yes, municipal funding is a real challenge. Yes, infrastructure is expensive. Yes, provincial governments deserve their share of criticism. But more and more

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