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

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 have visited Crossfeilds Mayor Kim Harris. This little gem on the prairie has a lot to offer, including a variety of recreational spaces, facilities and programs. Crossfield has continued to grow since it’s roots in the 1890’s

Welcome to The Political Trenches Local Government At Work. The role of the Chief Administrative Officer can be isolating at the best of times. It is often described as the narrow point in the hourglass—the space between council and administration where expectations, accountability, and leadership converge. But what happens when that hourglass narrows even further? When the administration is not a team, but a single individual? When the CAO is also responsible for finance, pl

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