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

Today, we are back talking about SUMA Convention 2026, which will be taking place in Regina from April 12th to April 15th, under the theme ‘Foundation of Urban Strength" Welcome to Season 10 of Muni-Cast. MuniCast is brought to you by SUMA, the voice of Saskatchewan’s urban municipalities. MuniCast discusses topics that are important to municipal leaders, like local governance, best practices, education, and so much more. This season, conversations will dive into how municipa

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 Town of Cochrane, Alberta Councillor Paul Singh. The vision of the early ranching pioneers to the Cochrane area included a strong sense of community. That vision continues to unfold as Cochrane gr

Today, we’re diving into a program designed to strengthen the very foundation of municipal leadership: the Governance Essentials for the Municipal Sector, or GEMS, offered through the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. Municipal governance is more than passing bylaws or balancing budgets—it’s about understanding the nuances of leadership, stewardship, and accountability. Whether you’re a council member, a municipal administrator, or simply passionate about your

Minister of Municipal Affairs Dan Williams Last Thursday, I found myself in a room that has become increasingly familiar to anyone who follows the evolving relationship between Alberta’s provincial government and its municipalities. It was a press conference featuring the Hon. Dan Williams, Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, alongside Dylan Bressey, president of Alberta Municipalities. The topic at hand was the municipal code of conduct, but like so many conversations i