Articles

Canada’s Infrastructure Deficit: Meeting Future Needs
Infrastructure is an integral part of everything we do, every day of our lives. In our homes, good infrastructure provides us with clean and healthy

Self-Sustaining Municipalities: Contributionism in Rural Ontario
I just completed my first term of political office as Mayor of North Frontenac in Ontario Canada and I am gearing up for another four

How the City of Ottawa is Building Resiliency into their Flood Plain Mapping
As the frequency and severity of storms and climatic events continues to increase, Canadian municipalities are being tasked with coming up with innovative solutions to

Renewable Regina: Why Communities Need to be at the Forefront of Tackling Climate Change
Three City of Regina councillors took off for the Renewable Cities conference in Vancouver, British Columbia early in their terms back in 2017.[i] The event hosts

Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy Measures Resilience & Reduces Emissions
Saskatchewan is a resource-based economy, with trade-exposed and emissions-intensive industries, and a large rural population that relies heavily on transportation. Saskatchewan produces 76 million tonnes

Overcoming Barriers & Implementing Green Storm Water Infrastructure Plans
In November 2018, the United States Global Change Research Program released the 4th National Climate Assessment (NCA4), amplifying long-standing warnings that – in the context

Ontario Continues to Raise the Bar for Municipal Asset Management Maturity
Canada is increasingly recognized internationally as a leader in municipal asset management – see the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s recently published report “FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY

Using a Model at the Source Approach to Inflow and Infiltration Studies
Utilities allocate high budgets to investigate and control inflow and infiltration (I/I) in their collection systems. High I/I is a result of aging sewers and

Securing Distinction in Municipal Budgeting for Your Community: A How-To Guide from Red Deer County
The International Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) established the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award Program in 1984 to encourage and assist state and local governments in

Building Infrastructure Capacity in Ontario First Nations Communities
First Nations communities are responsible for the management of a robust network of infrastructure assets. With limited resources and capacity, it is oftentimes a significant

Making Waves in Indigenous Water Health
In 2016, the federal budget committed nearly $2 billion for drinking and wastewater infrastructure improvements for Indigenous communities in Canada. The allocation made good on

Stronger Together: First Nations – Municipal Partnerships for a Sustainable Future
As the last notes from the drum resounded across the prairie, elected officials from Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation and the municipalities of the Twin