Municipal Affairs

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, I've noticed growing tension in that partnership. Whether it's debates over funding, infrastructure, libraries, or shared services, it's easy for municipalities to find themselves on opposite sides of an issue. But the reality is that communities rarely succeed in isolation.Today, we're travelling to northwestern Alberta to meet three municipal leaders who have made collaboration a priority: Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton, County of Grande Prairie Reeve Amanda McDonald, and Municipal District of Greenview Reeve Ryan Ratzlaff.Together, they've worked to strengthen the relationships between their municipalities, recognizing that regional success depends on trust, cooperation, and a willingness to tackle challenges together. We'll explore how they balance the needs of their own communities while keeping the bigger picture in mind, and why shifting from a "me first" mindset to a "we first" approach can create better outcomes for everyone.Because when urban and rural municipalities work together, the entire region is stronger.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Il y a un peu plus d’un an, après avoir quitté Ottawa à la suite du congrès de la Fédération canadienne des municipalités, je me suis donné un objectif : apprendre le français, la deuxième langue officielle du Canada.Je voulais me lancer un défi et, un jour, faire une entrevue complète en français pour Municipal Affairs.Au congrès de la FCM à Edmonton, la conseillère de la Ville de Salmon Arm, Louise Wallace Richmond, a accepté d’être ma première invitée pour une entrevue entièrement en français.(ENGLISH VERSION) A little over a year ago, leaving Ottawa after the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention, I made myself a promise: to learn Canada's second official language, French. I wanted to challenge myself and one day conduct an entire Municipal Affairs interview in French. At the FCM Convention in Edmonton, City of Salmon Arm Councillor Louise Wallace Richmond was set to be my first fully French guest. Without further ado... bienvenue à Municipal Affairs, en français.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

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 provincial MLAs and federal MPs to discuss the issues that matter most to their communities.We caught up with a few of those leaders and asked one question:What issue are you advocating for at the Calgary Stampede?From rural municipalities to Alberta's largest cities, local leaders shared the priorities they're bringing to the table—and why face-to-face conversations with provincial and federal decision-makers are such an important part of Stampede.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

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 challenges, opportunities, and priorities facing their communities.From infrastructure and housing to economic development and public services, the conversations taking place at FCM provide a unique window into the realities municipalities are experiencing on the ground. For Senator Simons, those discussions are more than just informative—they help provide valuable insight that she can bring back to Ottawa and into her work in the Senate of Canada.As lawmakers consider policies and legislation that affect communities across the country, hearing directly from local elected officials offers an important perspective on how federal decisions are felt at the municipal level.We spoke with Senator Paula Simons at the 2026 Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention to talk about the importance of connecting with municipal leaders, what she's hearing from communities across the country, and how those conversations help shape her work in Canada's Upper Chamber.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

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 helped shape conversations at the national level as a member of the Board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, advocating for communities of every size across Canada.But this year's convention carried a special significance.Just before arriving in Edmonton, Councillor Main announced she would be stepping away from municipal politics, bringing to a close a remarkable career defined by service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to both her community and municipalities across the country.As she prepared to attend her final FCM convention, it was a full-circle moment. Her first national convention was in Edmonton—and now, years later, her last would be there as well.We caught up with Councillor Leah Main to reflect on her years of service, the friendships and relationships she built along the way, and what it feels like to say goodbye to a career devoted to strengthening local government across Canada.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

The Calgary Stampede is often called the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Alberta, Canada, and around the world to celebrate Alberta's unique culture and western heritage.But it's also a time when municipal leaders from every corner of the province come together to connect, collaborate, and celebrate Alberta.At this year's Alberta Premier's Calgary Stampede Breakfast at McDougall House in downtown Calgary, municipal elected officials gathered to meet with colleagues, share ideas, and take part in one of the province's signature events.We caught up with a few of them and asked a simple question:What brings you to the Calgary Stampede?From rural communities to Alberta's largest cities, municipal leaders shared why the Stampede remains an important tradition—and why it's more than just a celebration.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Across Canada, municipalities are facing growing demands—from aging infrastructure and housing pressures to rising construction costs and the challenge of building resilient communities for the future. Meeting those challenges requires cooperation between every order of government.Last Month, that conversation took centre stage in Jasper, Alberta, where provincial and territorial ministers responsible for local government met to discuss shared priorities and help shape the future of municipal governance across the country.For the Yukon, the meeting marked more than just another intergovernmental gathering. Community Services Minister Corey Bellmore has been named the Chair of the provincial and territorial ministers responsible for local government for the next year, allowing the territory to help lead national discussions on the issues that matter most to communities.During the meetings, ministers also sat down with Canada's Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Gregor Robertson, to press for stable, predictable, and flexible infrastructure funding that reflects local priorities, addresses rising construction costs, and responds to ongoing supply chain challenges.As Chair, Minister Bellmore says she wants to ensure the voices of the North are heard as governments work together on infrastructure, housing-enabling investments, local governance, and the unique realities facing remote communities. It's also an opportunity to bring forward the priorities Yukon municipalities and local advisory councils have consistently identified through their ongoing advocacy.So what does this new leadership role mean for the Yukon? What were the key outcomes of the national meetings? And how could those discussions shape the future of communities across the territory?Today on the show, we are joined by Yukon Community Services Minister Corey Bellmore.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Thousands of local elected officials from across Canada gathered in Edmonton, Alberta, last month for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, marking 125 years of municipal leadership, collaboration, and advocacy.Over the course of the four-day convention, representatives from British Columbia connected not only with delegates from their own provinces, but with municipal leaders from coast to coast to coast. The event provided an opportunity to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and strengthen partnerships within Canada's municipal sector.While in Edmonton, we caught up with numerous municipal leaders from across the British Columbia to discuss their attendance and how things are going in their community.Today's guest include: Tofino Mayor Dan Law, Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell, and Kamloops Councillor Nancy Bepple. -----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

If you've been following the news this week, you've seen the images: roads washed away, neighbourhoods underwater, and families forced to leave their homes with little more than the essentials.For the people of Swan River, this isn't just another flood. It's their second major flood in less than a month.The water is finally starting to go down, but very slowly. In some parts of town, it still has metres to drop before people can even get back into their homes. That means hundreds of families are stuck waiting—not able to clean up, not able to rebuild, just waiting for the water to let them in.And as anyone who's lived through a disaster knows, sometimes the waiting is the hardest part.While communities like Dauphin are beginning to recover, Swan River faces a much longer road ahead because the water simply has nowhere to go. The flooding has damaged roads, rail lines, homes, and businesses. Infrastructure that was almost repaired after the first flood has now been washed out all over again.For Mayor Lance Jacobson, the toughest part has been watching what his residents are going through. He's described people as being "coiled up like a spring"—ready to get home, ready to start cleaning up, but unable to do anything until the water recedes. It's an emotional toll that's difficult to put into words.Municipal leaders are often the first people residents turn to during emergencies like this. They're coordinating the response, helping families find support, and already thinking about what recovery will look like months from now. At the same time, they're working with the province and hoping for additional help from the federal government because rebuilding after two historic floods isn't something any community can do alone.Today, we're going to talk about where things stand in Swan River, what residents are facing in the days and weeks ahead, and what governments at every level can do to help communities recover from disasters that seem to be happening more often.Joining me today is the Mayor of Swan River, Lance Jacobson.-----Photos and Video of Swan River Flooding by: Swan Hills Ranch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Swan-Hills-Ranch-100064662402914/-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Thousands of local elected officials from across Canada gathered in Edmonton, Alberta last month for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, marking 125 years of municipal leadership, collaboration, and advocacy.Over the course of the four-day convention, representatives from Ontario connected not only with delegates from their own provinces, but with municipal leaders from coast to coast to coast. The event provided an opportunity to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and strengthen partnerships within Canada's municipal sector.While in Edmonton, we caught up with numerous municipal leaders from across Ontario to discuss their attendance and how things are going in their community.Today's guests include: Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau, Burlington Councillor Rory Nisan and Greater Sudbury Councillor Natalie Labbée-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Thousands of local elected officials from across Canada gathered in Edmonton, Alberta last month  for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, marking 125 years of municipal leadership, collaboration, and advocacy.Over the course of the four-day convention, representatives from Newfoundland and Labrador connected not only with delegates from their own provinces, but with municipal leaders from coast to coast to coast. The event provided an opportunity to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and strengthen partnerships within Canada's municipal sector.While in Edmonton, we caught up with numerous municipal leaders from across Newfoundland and Labrador to discuss their attendance and how things are going in their community.Today's guests include: St. John's Mayor Danny Breen, Torbay Mayor Craig Scott, and Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador President Amy Coady-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Municipal leaders across Canada are facing many of the same challenges: aging infrastructure, rising construction costs, attracting and retaining skilled staff, and ensuring local councils have the tools they need to govern effectively.Those issues were front and centre as provincial and territorial ministers responsible for local government gathered, In Jasper, Alberta, to discuss the future of municipalities. Among the key topics: improving municipal codes of conduct, addressing harassment directed at elected officials and municipal employees, retaining chief administrative officers, expanding training opportunities for newly elected councils, and finding better ways to assess and finance the infrastructure communities depend on every day.The meeting also featured discussions with the federal government on the need for more stable, predictable infrastructure funding and ensuring national policies work for municipalities of every size, while reducing administrative hurdles and recognizing provincial and territorial priorities.What comes out of these conversations could have a lasting impact on communities across Saskatchewan and across Canada.Joining us today is Saskatchewan Government Relations Minister Eric Schmalz to discuss the outcomes of the meeting, what they mean for Saskatchewan municipalities, and the priorities he'll be advancing as governments continue working together on local governance and infrastructure.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

One of the greatest privileges of producing this show is travelling to communities and municipal conventions across Canada, where we have the opportunity to sit down with local leaders and hear the stories that shape our country from the ground up.With Canada Day here, there was one question I couldn't stop thinking about—one that felt especially fitting to ask the people who serve their communities every day:What does Canada mean to your community?Last week, we were in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, for the 2026 SUMA Regional Roadshow, where we posed that question to municipal leaders from across the province.Their answers reflect the pride, resilience, and shared values that make communities—and our country—strong.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

One of the great privileges of producing this show is travelling across Canada, attending municipal conventions and visiting communities of all sizes to sit down one-on-one with local leaders. Those conversations remind us just how diverse—and connected—our country truly is.As Canada Day is upon us, there was one simple but meaningful question we wanted to ask municipal leaders from across Alberta:What does Canada mean to you?Last week, we were in Red Deer, Alberta, for the 2026 Alberta Municipalities Summer Leaders' Caucus, where we posed that very question to elected officials from communities across the province.Here are their reflections, as we celebrate Canada and the people who help shape it every day.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

The Government of Canada has opened applications for the Build Communities Strong Fund's Local Impact Stream, with more than $176 million earmarked over the next four years for infrastructure projects across the Prairie provinces. The program is designed to help communities build or renew spaces that bring people together—from recreation facilities and community halls to parks, cultural spaces, and other public gathering places—with projects eligible for up to $1 million in federal funding.For rural municipalities, where aging infrastructure, rising construction costs, and limited tax bases often make it difficult to tackle major capital projects, this funding could present an important opportunity. But questions remain about whether the program is flexible enough to meet the unique needs of rural communities and whether smaller municipalities will have the capacity to access these dollars.Joining us today to discuss what this announcement means for rural Alberta is Kara Westerlund, President of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta. We'll talk about the opportunities this fund presents, the challenges municipalities still face, and what rural leaders hope to see from governments moving forward.All that and more on this edition of Municipal Affairs.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Today, we're taking a closer look at the issues shaping local government across Alberta, and why the decisions being made today will have a lasting impact on communities of every size, in every corner of the province.Joining us are Deborah Reid-Mickler, Deputy Mayor of the Village of Duchess and ABmunis Vice President of Villages and Summer Villages; Janelle Sandboe, Councillor for the City of Chestermere and Director representing Cities up to 500,000; and Jenny Jones, Councillor for the Town of High River and Director of Towns South.We'll begin with a look at the Alberta Summer Municipal Leaders' Caucuses, where we sat down with members of the ABmunis Board during the final MLC of the season in Red Deer. We'll hear what municipal leaders are talking about as they prepare for another busy year of advocacy and collaboration.We'll discuss the Property Tax Reimagined campaign, the growing need for sustainable infrastructure funding, and how municipalities continue to work with the provincial government while pressing for greater consultation and investment in the infrastructure Albertans rely on every day.We'll also ask an important question: Do Alberta's municipalities feel they're being heard by the province?Then, we'll head to Edmonton for a recap of the recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention, where local leaders from across the country came together to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and advocate for the issues that matter most to Canadian communities.We'll also explore why strong public libraries remain a priority for municipalities, and the vital role they play as community hubs across Alberta.And while summer may be a busy season for families, it's just as busy for municipal leaders. From community barbecues and local events to the Calgary Stampede, we'll look at how ABmunis continues its work of connecting with members and advocating on behalf of municipalities throughout the summer months.Finally, we'll preview one of the largest gatherings of municipal leaders in the province—the 2026 ABmunis Convention and Trade Show, taking place in Edmonton from September 23rd to 25th.All that and more, coming up on this edition of Municipal Affairs.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Before today's conversation, it's worth reflecting on what leadership looks like when a community faces a crisis.When an emergency unfolds, there is rarely a perfect plan. Events move minute by minute. New information arrives constantly. Decisions often have to be made in seconds, sometimes with only part of the picture available. In those moments, leaders are tasked with balancing uncertainty, risk, and responsibility.Sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes things go right. But either way, the weight of an entire community can rest on the shoulders of a small group of people charged with protecting it.In local government, that responsibility often falls to the Chief Administrative Officer. While residents may see firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and emergency responders on the front lines, behind the scenes, CAOs are working alongside emergency management teams and municipal staff to coordinate resources, maintain essential services, protect critical infrastructure, and support the difficult decisions that must be made under extraordinary circumstances.That brings us to today's story.On May 28, 2025, residents of Flin Flon, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, and Pimicikamak Cree Nation were told to evacuate their homes as rapidly advancing wildfires threatened communities across northern Manitoba. That same day, the Province of Manitoba declared a province-wide state of emergency. Thousands of people were forced to leave their communities, many travelling south in one of the largest evacuation efforts in recent provincial history.At the centre of that response in Flin Flon was then-Chief Administrative Officer Lyn Brown. As the crisis unfolded, Brown worked alongside municipal administration, emergency services, and provincial partners to help coordinate the community's response and ensure residents could evacuate safely.Today, we'll speak with Lyn Brown about what it means to lead during a disaster, the unique role a CAO plays when a community is under threat, and what municipal leaders can do to prepare for situations that, by their very nature, are impossible to fully predict.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Thousands of local elected officials from across Canada gathered in Edmonton, Alberta, this week for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, marking 125 years of municipal leadership, collaboration, and advocacy.Over the course of the four-day convention, representatives from across Manitoba connected not only with delegates from their own provinces but with municipal leaders from coast to coast to coast. The event provided an opportunity to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and strengthen partnerships within Canada's municipal sector.While in Edmonton, we caught up with mayors from across Manitoba to discuss their reasons for attending a Municipal event like the FCM Convention and Trade Show.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Thousands of local elected officials from across Canada gathered in Edmonton, Alberta, this week for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, marking 125 years of municipal leadership, collaboration, and advocacy.Over the course of the four-day convention, representatives from across Saskatchewan connected not only with delegates from their own provinces but with municipal leaders from coast to coast to coast. The event provided an opportunity to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and strengthen partnerships within Canada's municipal sector.While in Edmonton, we caught up with two mayors from across Saskatchewan to discuss their reasons for attending a Municipal event like the FCM Convention and Trade Show.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Thousands of local elected officials from across Canada gathered in Edmonton, Alberta, this week for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, marking 125 years of municipal leadership, collaboration, and advocacy.Over the course of the four-day convention, representatives from across Saskatchewan connected not only with delegates from their own provinces but with municipal leaders from coast to coast to coast. The event provided an opportunity to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and strengthen partnerships within Canada's municipal sector.While in Edmonton, we caught up with two mayors from across Saskatchewan to discuss their reasons for attending a Municipal event like the FCM Convention and Trade Show.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

The relationship between municipalities and businesses can sometimes be a complicated one. Businesses may feel burdened by regulations and processes, while municipalities are often challenged to balance economic growth with the needs and expectations of their communities.Yet in every community, there is an organization that serves as a vital bridge between these two worlds: the local Chamber of Commerce. In some communities, it may be known as a business association, a downtown business improvement district, or a business improvement area. Regardless of the name, its role remains the same—bringing together the voices of local businesses and connecting them with municipal, provincial, and federal decision-makers.Today on Municipal Affairs, we are honoured to sit down with Mike Tate, CEO of the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce. During our conversation, we'll explore the priorities and challenges facing businesses today, the role municipalities play in fostering economic success, and how local governments and the business community can work together to strengthen and support businesses of all sizes—from long-established brick-and-mortar operations to emerging entrepreneurs and innovators.We'll also take a closer look at the important role Chambers of Commerce play in communities across the country, viewed through the lens of Regina's experience and perspective.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Downtown Edmonton is already humming with the energy of the 2026 FCM Convention. Municipal leaders stepped out into the streets of Edmonton with a message that cuts through the usual policy language and procedural rhythm.“Elbows up for climate.”It’s part rallying cry, part warning, part invitation to do more—now. A national call for action on climate change, carried not from Parliament Hill, but from city halls, band councils, and regional offices across the country.Behind it is the Climate Caucus—a non-partisan network that sits in the space where local democracy meets climate policy. Not flashy, not partisan, but persistent. Working with mayors, chiefs, councillors, and regional leaders, helping them turn climate ambition into actual policy, and policy into action.Across Canada, their role is simple in concept, complicated in execution: make sure the people closest to communities—the ones who see the floods, the fires, the housing strain, the rising insurance costs—have the tools, the data, and the backing to respond.Because climate change doesn’t arrive as theory at the municipal level. It arrives as washed-out roads. As overheated schools. As strained budgets. And it lands, first and hardest, on local governments already stretched thin.Today, that message is carried by voices like Zoe Grams, who describes a simple premise: that supporting local leaders is one of the fastest ways to deliver real climate progress, because they are already in the work of keeping people safe, housed, and connected.And it is echoed by Merlin Blackwall, speaking from the perspective of a smaller community—Clearwater, British Columbia—where climate isn’t abstract either. It’s forests, water systems, emergency preparedness, and the constant calculation of risk.What emerges is not a single speech, but a shared insistence: that affordability, health, and safety are not separate from climate policy—they are the measure of it.The question is no longer whether municipalities have a role in climate action, but what can municipalities do to preserve our amazing landscape. This is Municipal Affairs.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

We are turning our attention to a growing crisis in east-central Alberta—one that residents say is no longer just about inconvenience, but about safety, survival, and the basic ability to call for help when it matters most.In the small community of Village of Amisk and the surrounding region stretching from Czar and Hughenden to Hardisty—and even along the southern edge of CFB Wainwright—cellular and data service has been deteriorating for months. According to a formal letter sent to Alberta MLA Nate Horner and federal MP Pierre Poilievre, what was once described as “limited coverage” has now become, in their words, “an all-time low.”Residents report dropped connections, near-total dead zones, and perhaps most alarmingly, failures in SOS and 911 connectivity in multiple areas. Landline outages—some stretching up to six weeks—have only compounded the problem, leaving entire households and businesses cut off.And the consequences, according to local officials, are no longer hypothetical.A medical emergency last summer saw ambulance crews lose contact with dispatch while responding to a patient suffering a severe injury, delaying care by nearly forty minutes. In another incident, a fast-moving grass fire driven by winds exceeding 60 kilometres per hour could not be reported promptly because the caller had no service at the point of ignition, forcing residents to physically drive in search of signal while emergency responders struggled to pinpoint the location. And in a third case, a young woman seriously injured after being thrown from a horse was unable to share her location or contact rescuers—even as they passed nearby—because her device simply could not connect.For the residents of the region, these are not isolated anecdotes. They are part of a pattern they say is putting lives, livestock, and livelihoods at risk.The letter, signed alongside a petition of more than 600 residents—most of whom reportedly use Telus and Koodo networks—calls for urgent intervention from both provincial and federal levels of government. In response,  Pierre Poilievre has sponsored e-petition E-7477, now before the House of Commons of Canada House of Commons of Canada, urging Telecommunications providers to close persistent service gaps in rural east-central Alberta and ensure emergency connectivity is reliable for all Canadians.The petition remains open until July 4th.Today, we speak with Amisk Mayor Bill Rock about what life is like on the front lines of Canada’s rural connectivity gap—and what, if anything, can be done before the next emergency turns into something far worse.-----Sign the e-Petitionhttps://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-7477-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

For more than 125 years, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities — better known as FCM — has served as the national voice of local government in Canada. Since its founding in 1901, municipalities from coast to coast to coast have come together through this organization to advocate for stronger communities, better infrastructure, and federal policies that reflect the realities Canadians experience every day at the local level.Today, FCM represents nearly 2,000 municipalities and 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations, giving it a voice that speaks on behalf of more than 90 percent of Canadians. From major urban centres to rural communities and northern regions, municipal leaders gather through FCM to share ideas, establish priorities, and address the challenges shaping communities across the country.But what does FCM actually mean for municipalities? How does its work affect residents on the ground? And how does one organization bring together the diverse perspectives, priorities, and realities that make up a country as vast and varied as Canada?To help answer those questions, we're joined by four municipal leaders who have each served as President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.Together, they bring decades of experience from communities across the country and unique insight into how FCM advocates on behalf of local governments.Joining us today are Taneen Rudyk, President of FCM in 2022; Garth Frizzell, President in 2020; Clark Somerville, President in 2016; and Karen Leibovici, President in 2012.Together, they'll discuss why a unified municipal voice matters, how FCM works with governments at every level, and why the organization's work is important not only for municipalities, but for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.This is Municipal Affairs.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

As Canada moves to strengthen its defence readiness and meet new commitments with NATO, municipalities are being recognized as critical partners in the effort.At the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' annual convention in Edmonton, FCM announced the creation of a new Defence Task Force aimed at strengthening collaboration between local governments and federal partners. The task force will be co-chaired by Councillor Will Cole-Hamilton of Courtenay, British Columbia, and Councillor Conny Glenn of Kingston, Ontario.The initiative builds on the important role municipalities already play in supporting Canada's defence capacity. From roads, water systems, and housing to transportation networks and community services, local infrastructure plays a vital role in supporting military operations and the families who live and work in communities across the country.The launch comes as Canada significantly increases defence spending and advances new commitments with NATO. As new investments are made, ensuring federal priorities align with local realities will be essential to delivering results efficiently and effectively.During the four-day convention in Edmonton, we spoke with Councillor Will Cole-Hamilton and Councillor Conny Glenn about the creation of the Defence Task Force, why now was the right time to launch this initiative, and what they hope to accomplish as municipalities take on a larger role in supporting Canada's defence readiness.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Last month, rural municipal administrators from across Saskatchewan gathered in Regina for the Rural Municipal Administrators' Association of Saskatchewan Convention, an annual opportunity to share knowledge, discuss emerging challenges, and strengthen the connections that help support local government across the province.The Rural Municipal Administrators' Association of Saskatchewan, or RMAAS, brings together senior administrators from Saskatchewan's rural municipalities with a common goal: enhancing the professional services delivered to residents and helping municipalities navigate an increasingly complex operating environment.Over the course of the convention, delegates explored a wide range of topics impacting municipal administration today. From information and privacy management, to working effectively with Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency, attendees participated in sessions designed to provide practical tools, valuable insights, and opportunities to learn from one another's experiences.Beyond the educational sessions, the convention also served as an important forum for collaboration, allowing municipal leaders to discuss shared priorities and consider the future of rural municipal administration in Saskatchewan.To help us better understand what was discussed at this year's convention, the key takeaways for members, and the path forward for the organization, we are joined today by Sheila Keisig, President of the Rural Municipal Administrators' Association of Saskatchewan.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Thousands of local elected officials from across Canada gathered in Edmonton, Alberta this week for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, marking 125 years of municipal leadership, collaboration, and advocacy.Over the course of the four-day convention, representatives from municipal associations across the country connected not only with delegates from their own provinces and territories, but with municipal leaders from coast to coast to coast. The event provided an opportunity to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and strengthen partnerships within Canada's municipal sector.While in Edmonton, we spoke with several provincial municipal association leaders about their experiences at the conference, the issues they are hearing from members, and why maintaining a strong relationship with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities remains important for local governments across the country.------Chapters:0:00 - Opening 0:04 - Introduction 1:08 - Alberta Municipalities President Dylan Bressey5:27 - RMA President Kara Westerlund 10:40 - SUMA President Randy Goulden 16:21 - AMM President Kathy Valentino 19:28 - MNL President Amy Coady 22:34 - FPEIM President Bruce MacDougall27:27 - UNBM President Brittany Merrifield 31:40 - Closing 32:32 - End Credits -----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Canada's downtowns are the economic engines of our communities, driving investment, creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and shaping the daily lives of residents across the country. Recognizing their importance, the Big City Mayors' Caucus, representing 23 of Canada's largest cities, has come together to advance a series of priorities aimed at strengthening downtown cores and supporting long-term economic growth.As Canada works to attract new investment and build a stronger economy, municipal leaders are emphasizing that vibrant, safe, and prosperous downtowns are essential to achieving those goals. The country's big-city mayors are united in advocating for practical solutions that address both local challenges and national priorities.During the caucus press conference, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas was among the municipal leaders in attendance. Following the event, we had the opportunity to sit down with Mayor Farkas for a one-on-one conversation. We discussed several issues important to Calgarians, including public safety, how he and the new council are working together to address the city's challenges, and what residents can expect when it comes to property taxes.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Canada's largest cities are calling on the federal government to help revitalize downtown cores and strengthen economic growth across the country.The Big City Mayors' Caucus, representing 23 of Canada's largest municipalities, has unveiled a series of priorities aimed at supporting vibrant downtowns, attracting investment, and addressing challenges that continue to impact communities from coast to coast.The caucus says strong downtowns are critical to Canada's economic future, serving as hubs for business, culture, housing, and public life."Strong nations need strong downtowns," said BCMC Chair and London Mayor Josh Morgan. "They are where investment takes shape, culture thrives, and some of our most pressing challenges intersect."Mayor Morgan says Canada's economic success depends on creating downtowns where housing, public safety, mobility, and infrastructure work together to build opportunity, support local businesses, and foster strong, connected communities.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

This past weekend, Edmonton became the centre of the municipal universe.From coast to coast to coast, local leaders from communities large and small gathered in Alberta's capital for the 125th Annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention and Trade Show.The annual convention is more than just a meeting. It's a unique opportunity for municipal leaders to come together, share ideas, tackle common challenges, explore new opportunities, and engage directly with federal decision-makers on the issues shaping communities across the country.This year's convention also marked a significant transition for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as the organization entered a new chapter in its 125-year history.Ottawa City Councillor Tim Tierney officially assumed the role of FCM President, becoming the first president from Canada's capital city in more than 80 years.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

In the wheat heart of Southern Alberta, the Village of Barons is beginning a new chapter.Following a by-election at the end of May, former Barons Councillor Clinton Bishop is returning to local government after earning a decisive victory, receiving 71 votes in a three-candidate race for a vacant council seat. In a unique footnote to election night, one candidate did not receive a single vote.But the story did not end at the ballot box.At the first meeting of the newly constituted council, Bishop was officially sworn back into office and was subsequently appointed Mayor of the community located just north of Lethbridge.Bishop served as Mayor for Barons in 2023. With a full three-member council now in place, Mayor Bishop takes on the challenge of guiding Barons through its next chapter while addressing the priorities and concerns residents shared throughout the campaign.Today on Municipal Affairs, we sit down with Mayor Clinton Bishop to discuss what he heard from voters during the by-election, the issues that matter most to residents, and how he plans to work alongside council to move Barons forward for everyone who calls the community home.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Across Alberta — and really across the country — municipalities are facing a familiar challenge: how do communities grow, attract investment, and create opportunity in an increasingly competitive environment?For many municipalities, the answer is no longer just about traditional industry or infrastructure. More communities are looking at tourism not simply as a visitor experience, but as a serious economic driver — one that supports local businesses, creates jobs, attracts new residents, and helps communities tell their story to the world.From major events and cultural attractions to sports tourism, outdoor recreation, and culinary experiences, municipalities are recognizing that tourism development can play a critical role in economic diversification and long-term community growth.But with those opportunities also come important questions. How do communities invest strategically? What role should local government play? And how can municipalities balance growth, sustainability, and quality of life for residents?To discuss all of that and much more, we’re joined by Greg Robinson. Greg has led municipalities as CAO and organizations as Chair and Interim CAO. This is Municipal Affairs.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

This week, we’re talking about the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention — one of the biggest events on the municipal calendar, where local leaders from across the country come together to debate policy, share ideas, and build relationships.But beyond the speeches and resolutions, what actually makes for a successful FCM experience? What should first-time delegates know before they arrive? And how important are the conversations happening outside the formal sessions — in workshops, caucus meetings, study tours, and even over coffee?We’ll also discuss the role municipalities play as ambassadors for their communities, why networking still matters in local government, and how conventions like FCM can shape policy and partnerships long after delegates return home.And of course, we’ll ask the question many veteran delegates know well: how do you balance the social side of FCM with the responsibility of representing your municipality professionally?Joining us for the roundtable are two people with extensive municipal leadership experience - and the co-authors of the Unofficial FCM Code: A Delegate’s Guide to Doing it Right — former FCM President and Halton Hills Councillor Clark Somerville, and Mayor of Aurora Tom Mrakas.Welcome to Municipal Affairs.-----Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

For more than 125 years, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities — better known as FCM — has been the national voice of local government in Canada. Since 1901, municipalities from coast to coast to coast have come together through this organization to advocate for stronger communities, better infrastructure, and federal policies that reflect the realities Canadians experience at the local level.Today, FCM represents nearly 2,000 municipalities and 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations, speaking on behalf of more than 90 percent of Canadians. From major urban centres to rural towns and northern communities, municipal leaders gather each year to share ideas, set priorities, and tackle the challenges shaping communities across the country.This year, that national conversation comes to Edmonton.Today, we wanted to better understand what FCM means in an Alberta context. What value does the organization provide to Alberta municipalities? Are municipalities stronger when they work together through a national organization? And do communities see a meaningful return on their investment in FCM membership and participation?To explore those questions, we’re joined by three Alberta municipal leaders who are taking on new roles with the FCM Board following this year’s convention: Robin Kurpjuweit, Councillor for Cypress County; Robert Parks, Councillor for Strathcona County; and Mike Yargeau, Mayor of the Town of Penhold.Welcome to Municipal Affairs.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIvSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviewsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Blusky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network© 2026

One of the major conversations at this year’s Association of Yukon Communities Convention in Watson Lake centred around energy: energy affordability, energy supply, and meeting growing demand across Yukon communities.The issue remained front and centre throughout the three-day convention, especially following concerns last winter over the possibility of rolling blackouts in Whitehorse, the territory’s largest municipality.At the centre of those discussions was Yukon Energy Minister Ted Laking, who addressed municipal leaders on the challenges communities are facing today and the Yukon government’s plans to strengthen the territory’s energy future.Following his remarks, we sat down with Minister Laking to discuss how the Yukon government is working to ensure the territory avoids the risk of rolling blackouts in the winter ahead, and how the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the Yukon and Ontario governments on nuclear energy could help open the door to more diverse energy projects across the territory.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Earlier this month, more than 130 municipal leaders and administrators from across the Yukon gathered in Watson Lake for the 51st annual Association of Yukon Communities Convention, as communities from across the territory came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing municipalities today.Yukon’s Leader of the Official Opposition and Yukon NDP Leader Kate White was among the speakers at the convention, addressing delegates on her perspective on the current state of Yukon communities and municipalities.Following her remarks, we spoke one-on-one with Kate White about the issues she has been hearing from municipal leaders throughout the convention, including healthcare, infrastructure, and municipal funding, and how she believes those challenges are shaping the future of the Yukon Territory.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

For this edition of Municipal Affairs, we’re heading to the heart of Alberta as Edmonton prepares to welcome municipal leaders from across Canada for one of the country’s most important gatherings of local government.For more than 125 years, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities — known as FCM — has served as the national voice of municipal government in Canada. Since its beginnings in 1901, municipalities from coast to coast to coast have come together through this organization to advocate for stronger communities, better infrastructure, and policies that reflect the realities facing Canadians at the local level.Today, FCM represents nearly 2,000 municipalities and 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations, speaking on behalf of more than 90 percent of Canadians. From Canada’s largest cities to rural towns and northern communities, municipal leaders gather annually to set priorities, share ideas, and tackle the challenges shaping communities across the country.This year, that conversation comes to Edmonton.From June 4th through 7th, more than 1,500 elected officials, municipal staff, partners, and federal representatives will gather at the Edmonton Convention Centre for FCM’s 2026 Annual Conference — the largest pan-Canadian gathering of municipal leaders in the country.The conference promises four days of collaboration, discussion, and innovation, giving delegates the opportunity to network with peers, exchange solutions, and gain the tools needed to navigate the evolving challenges facing municipalities today — from housing and infrastructure to economic growth, climate resilience, public safety, and community development.So to help us unpack all that will take place over the four days in Edmonton, we have the pleasure of sitting down and chat with Rebecca Bligh, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. We wanted to learn about what has transpired for the municipal organization since their last gathering in the National Capital, and how her time as President has shaped her view and outlook on municipalities from coast to coast to coast.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIvSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviewsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Blusky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network© 2026

Earlier this month, more than 130 municipal leaders and administrators from across the Yukon gathered in Watson Lake for the 51st annual Association of Yukon Communities Convention, bringing communities together to discuss the priorities and challenges facing municipalities across the territory.Speaking at her first AYC Convention as Yukon’s Minister of Community Services, Cori Bellmore delivered a message focused on collaboration and partnership between municipalities, her department, and the Yukon government under Premier Currie Dixon.Following her address on the final day of the convention, we sat down with Minister Bellmore to hear what she took away from conversations with delegates — and what comes next as she returns to Whitehorse to ensure the discussions that began in Watson Lake continue long after the convention wraps up.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

For this edition of Municipal Affairs, we’re heading to the heart of Alberta as Edmonton prepares to welcome municipal leaders from across Canada for one of the country’s most important gatherings of local government.For more than 125 years, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities — known as FCM — has served as the national voice of municipal government in Canada. Since its beginnings in 1901, municipalities from coast to coast to coast have come together through this organization to advocate for stronger communities, better infrastructure, and policies that reflect the realities facing Canadians at the local level.Today, FCM represents nearly 2,000 municipalities and 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations, speaking on behalf of more than 90 percent of Canadians. From Canada’s largest cities to rural towns and northern communities, municipal leaders gather annually to set priorities, share ideas, and tackle the challenges shaping communities across the country.This year, that conversation comes to Edmonton.From June 4th through 7th, more than 1,500 elected officials, municipal staff, partners, and federal representatives will gather at the Edmonton Convention Centre for FCM’s 2026 Annual Conference — the largest pan-Canadian gathering of municipal leaders in the country.The conference promises four days of collaboration, discussion, and innovation, giving delegates the opportunity to network with peers, exchange solutions, and gain the tools needed to navigate the evolving challenges facing municipalities today — from housing and infrastructure to economic growth, climate resilience, public safety, and community development.And what better place to host those conversations than Edmonton — the Champion City.We caught up with Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack to discuss about what it means for Edmonton to host this national gathering, how the city is preparing to welcome delegates from every corner of Canada, and what Edmonton hopes municipal leaders will experience while they’re here.We’ll also discuss what Edmonton itself hopes to learn from other communities across the country, and why collaboration between municipalities has never been more important.We also caught up with Rebecca Bligh, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, to discuss what has transpired for the municipal organization since their last gathering in the National Capital, and how her time as President has shaped her view and outlook on municipalities from coast to coast to coast. ------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIvSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviewsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Blusky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network© 2026

On this edition of Municipal Affairs — more than 130 municipal leaders from across the Yukon gathered in Watson Lake for the 51st annual Association of Yukon Communities Convention, where municipal representatives from across the territory came together to discuss the issues shaping Yukon communities.Federal representatives were also part of the conversation. Yukon Member of Parliament Brendan Hanley attended the first two days of the convention, speaking with municipal leaders about how the federal government is working alongside Yukon municipalities to address key priorities and challenges facing communities across the territory.Following his address, we spoke one-on-one with MP Hanley about housing, energy, and affordability — and how he believes those issues will be addressed under Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government moving forward.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

On this edition, Municipal Affairs — more than 130 municipal leaders from across the Yukon gathered in Watson Lake for the 51st annual Association of Yukon Communities Convention, bringing together mayors, councillors, and community representatives to discuss the issues shaping the territory’s future.On the convention’s second day, Yukon Premier Currie Dixon addressed delegates about the challenges facing municipalities and the opportunities ahead for communities across the territory.(PRE-RECORDED INTERVIEW)Following his remarks, we sat down one-on-one with Premier Dixon to talk about what he heard from municipal leaders, the priorities of his government since last fall’s election, and the transition from Leader of the Official Opposition to Premier as his government works to address the issues facing both Yukon communities and the territory as a whole.(PRE-RECORDED INTERVIEW)------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

At the beginning of May, more than 130 municipal leaders from across the Yukon gathered in Watson Lake for the 51st annual Association of Yukon Communities Convention. Over three days, elected officials and administrators from communities across the territory came together to discuss the challenges facing municipalities, the common priorities shared between communities, and the role local governments continue to play in the broader Yukon economy.Opening the convention was Association of Yukon Communities President Lauren Hanchar, who addressed delegates from across the territory as municipalities now reach the halfway point between the last municipal election and the next vote set to take place two years from now.Following her address, we sat down with Hanchar to discuss what this year’s gathering meant for municipal leaders and why this midway point in the municipal term is such an important moment for communities across the Yukon.We also spoke with Watson Lake MLA and Yukon Party member Patti McLeod about what it meant to welcome municipal leaders from across the territory to eastern Yukon and the importance of hosting the convention in Watson Lake.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Today on Municipal Affairs, we take a closer look at two issues shaping the future of local governance in Alberta: the Property Tax Accountability Strategy and Bill 28.For years, rural municipalities across the province have been sounding the alarm over unpaid oil and gas property taxes — a growing problem that continues to strain municipal budgets, infrastructure planning, and the services residents rely on every day. The Property Tax Accountability Strategy, or PTAS, was created to bring municipalities, industry, regulators, and the province together to find solutions. But with the final report now complete, questions remain about implementation, accountability, and whether the province will move quickly enough to address the mounting tax arrears facing communities across Alberta.At the same time, Bill 28 is advancing through the Legislature, proposing sweeping changes to the Municipal Government Act, the Libraries Act, and the Alberta Housing Act. Supporters say the legislation will streamline processes and create consistency across the province. Critics, however, argue the bill marks a major shift in the balance of power between municipalities and the provincial government — expanding provincial oversight in areas traditionally managed at the local level, from planning and development to housing, taxation, governance, and public services.So what do these changes mean for municipalities, especially rural Alberta? How could they impact local decision-making, accountability, and long-term sustainability? And what message are municipal leaders sending to the province as these changes move forward?Joining us to discuss all of this and a bit more is Kara Westerlund, President of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIvSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviewsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Blusky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network© 2026

For weeks, Municipal Affairs has taken you inside the conversations, ideas, and debates that shaped the 2026 SUMA Convention in Regina. But today, we turn the page. The convention may be over, but the work is only beginning.Over three days in Regina, municipal leaders from communities across Saskatchewan came together to tackle the shared challenges facing urban municipalities — from infrastructure and housing to advocacy and growth. Now, with delegates back home and the SUMA team back at work, the question becomes: what happens next?Today, we sit down with SUMA CEO Jean-Marc Nadeau to discuss the road ahead. We’ll talk about the priorities emerging from this year’s convention, the issues gaining momentum across the province, and what SUMA will be focused on in the months ahead.This is Municipal Affairs.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIvSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviewsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Blusky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network© 2026

New Brunswick voters have spoken.On Monday night, residents across the province headed to the polls to choose the leaders who will shape their communities for the next four years — electing representatives in nearly all of New Brunswick’s 77 municipalities, 12 rural districts, and district education councils.And the results delivered both continuity and change.In Fredericton, longtime city councillor Steve Hicks will take over the mayor’s chair. Saint John voters returned Donna Reardon for a second term, while Moncton elected three-term councillor Shawn Crossman as its next mayor.Elsewhere, communities chose new leadership in places like Tantramar, Shediac, Dieppe, Miramichi, and New Maryland.One of the most historic results came in Dieppe, where Hélène Boudreau — a nurse with four decades of experience — became the first woman ever elected mayor of the city, succeeding longtime mayor Yvon Lapierre, who chose not to seek another term.In Woodstock, former mayor Jeff Wright reclaimed the office by defeating incumbent mayor Trina Jones. In St. Stephen, Steven C. Backman earned a decisive victory, while in Campbellton, former Atholville mayor Michel Soucy emerged victorious after a closely watched race.And in Saint Andrews, this election unfolded under difficult circumstances following the recent death of acting mayor Kate Akagi. Mayor-elect Steve Neil now takes office after a campaign marked by both civic engagement and community mourning.More than 216,000 New Brunswickers cast ballots — translating to nearly 40 per cent voter turnout — a reminder that local government remains the level of government closest to people’s daily lives.But now comes the difficult part.Campaigns are over. The governing begins.New and returning councils are preparing to tackle housing pressures, infrastructure demands, policing costs, economic uncertainty, and the continued evolution of local governance under regional reform.So what did this election reveal about the priorities of New Brunswickers? What challenges are municipalities preparing to face? And what direction will the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick take as councils begin the 2026 to 2030 term?Joining us for this edition of Municipal Affairs, is the President of the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick and the Mayor of Grand Bay-Westfield, Brittany Merrifield.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/3XwwXIvSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cross-border-interviewsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Blusky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Cross Border Interview is Part of the Cross Border Network© 2026

On May 1st, I had the opportunity to stand in front of a room full of municipal leaders at the 2026 Manitoba Municipal Administrators Association Leadership Summit in Brandon, Manitoba. It was a moment that felt both grounding and urgent—because the conversations happening in that room are the same ones unfolding in communities across the country.Municipal leaders today are operating in an environment that is more complex, more visible, and more demanding than ever before. Expectations from citizens continue to rise, often shaped by the immediacy of digital life and the transparency people now expect from every level of government. At the same time, public discourse is shifting—faster, louder, and sometimes more polarized—making the work of local governance not just about service delivery, but about trust, communication, and resilience.Layer onto that the uncertainty of an election cycle, where priorities can shift overnight and leadership can change at the ballot box, and it becomes clear: this is not business as usual.When I was invited to speak, I was asked to focus on a topic I care deeply about—something I’ve spent the last few years observing, analyzing, and, frankly, wrestling with: the state of local government and the evolving expectations of the citizens we serve.Because at the heart of all of this is a simple but pressing question: are our institutions keeping pace with the people they represent?Today, we’re going to explore that question—what’s changing, what it means for municipal leadership, and where we go from here.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

On May 1st, I found myself in Brandon, Manitoba, joining municipal leaders from across the province at the 2026 Manitoba Municipal Administrators Association Leadership Summit. It’s one of those gatherings where the conversations feel especially real—because the challenges being discussed aren’t theoretical. They’re happening right now, in council chambers, in community halls, and increasingly, online.Municipal leadership today is not what it was even five years ago. The pace has changed. Expectations have changed. Citizens are more engaged, more vocal, and more connected than ever before. And while that brings opportunity, it also brings pressure. Public discourse is shifting—sometimes productive, sometimes polarized—and navigating that space has become a core part of the job.Add to that the uncertainty of a municipal election cycle, where priorities can shift quickly and leadership can change, and it becomes clear just how complex this environment has become.Earlier in the day, I had the chance to speak about something I’ve been closely watching: the state of local government and the evolving expectations of citizens. But in the afternoon, the conversation turned to something even more immediate—how we communicate in a world shaped by algorithms, comment sections, and constant noise.We hosted a roundtable discussion called Anti-Social Media: Communicating with the Crowds—a candid look at what it means to engage with communities in spaces that aren’t always built for constructive dialogue.I was joined by three experienced voices in local government: Vanessa Figus, Jody Penner, and Colleen Draper. Together, we explored what’s working, what isn’t, and how municipalities can cut through the noise to build meaningful connections with the people they serve.This episode of Municipal Affairs was recorded live at the MMAA Leadership Summit—and it captures a conversation that’s becoming more important with every passing day.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

Join us LIVE on Election Night — Monday, May 11th at 8:30 PM ADT / 5:30 PM MST / 9:00 PM NST — for complete coverage of the New Brunswick Municipal Elections.Get real-time results as they come in, hear reactions from communities across the province, and dive into expert analysis on how the vote is shaping the future of cities, towns, and rural municipalities.Don’t miss this in-depth, coast-to-coast conversation as the results unfold live.------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

We’re diving into a piece of legislation that could reshape the relationship between Alberta’s municipalities, homeowners, and the province itself: Bill 28.Framed by the government as a move toward fairness, consistency, and efficiency, this bill touches on some of the most sensitive pressure points in local governance — how communities are run, how development happens, and, perhaps most importantly, how property is taxed.At the heart of the conversation is a promise to standardize and modernize. Bill 28 proposes changes to municipal governance, including clearer expectations around codes of conduct for elected officials. It also introduces new reporting requirements for larger municipalities, aiming to shed more light on how development decisions are made and how long they take.But it’s the proposed changes to property taxation that are already sparking debate. The bill would prohibit so-called vacancy-style taxes — including those used in places like Canmore — arguing that homeowners shouldn’t be penalized based on how often they use their property. The province says this is about fairness: similar homes, taxed in similar ways. Critics, however, question what it means for housing availability in high-demand communities.There’s also a significant shift in how schools fit into the municipal landscape. Bill 28 would align charter schools with other publicly funded systems when it comes to accessing municipal and school reserve lands. It would also exempt charter and independent schools from off-site levies, with the goal of speeding up the development of new school infrastructure.And then there’s development itself — a key theme running through this legislation. From clarifying what municipalities can charge in off-site levies, to enabling automated permitting tools and even creating a pathway for so-called “Automatic Yes” approvals, the province is signaling a push to remove barriers and accelerate growth. The bill would also give the Minister authority to establish community design codes, potentially reshaping how neighbourhoods are planned.Supporters say these changes will reduce red tape, improve transparency, and make life more predictable for homeowners, builders, and families. Others worry about the implications for local autonomy and whether a one-size-fits-all approach can truly reflect the diverse needs of Alberta’s communities.So what does Bill 28 really mean on the ground — for municipalities, for taxpayers, and for the future of development across the province?Joining us tonight to unpack it all is ABMunis President Dylan Bressey.This is Municipal Affairs. ------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026

There’s a quiet truth that echoes in council chambers from coast to coast: when it comes to stable, predictable municipal funding, not all systems are created equal. In fact, ask almost any municipal leader across Canada, and you’ll hear the same thing—if their province followed Saskatchewan’s lead, their communities would be on much stronger footing.Because in Saskatchewan, they built something different. Something durable. Something that, nearly two decades later, is still widely considered the gold standard for municipal–provincial relations.It all comes down to one idea: the Saskatchewan Municipal Revenue Sharing program.At its core, the Municipal Revenue Sharing program—often called MRS—is a simple but powerful concept. It ties municipal funding directly to the strength of the provincial economy, allocating a portion of provincial sales tax revenue to communities. The result? Funding that is predictable, transparent, and—perhaps most importantly—no strings attached.Since its introduction, that funding has grown dramatically, increasing more than 200 percent across the province since 2007. But behind that success story is a moment in time—a political window, a collaborative effort, and a group of people who saw an opportunity to rethink how municipalities are funded.One of those people is Keith Comstock.As Assistant Deputy Minister of Government Relations, Comstock played a central role in shaping and implementing the program, working across political lines to turn an idea into a lasting institution. Today, he continues to influence the next generation of policy leaders as Executive-in-Residence at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.In this episode, we’ll explore how the Municipal Revenue Sharing program came to life, the role the 2007 Saskatchewan election played in accelerating its adoption, and why—nearly twenty years later—it continues to set the benchmark for the rest of the country.This is Municipal Affairs.------This episode of Municipal Affairs was sponsored by: Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policyhttps://www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca/------Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-showJoin The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show ------Listen To The Show:Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2ISpotify: https://bit.ly/3tkvb0E YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crossborderinterviewswithchrisbrown------Follow Us On Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/ Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/Municipal Affairs is Part of The Cross Border Network©2026