Municipal Affairs

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From the bustling streets of Vancouver to the serene coastlines of the Maritimes, and all the way up north to the breathtaking landscapes of the Arctic, we're embarking on an expedition that will connect us, inform us, and empower us. This isn't just another show; it's your portal into the pulse of your local community and every community across our vast and diverse country.

  1. 1d ago

    🔴 Pacific Link : What Does It Mean for Rural Alberta (Recorded Live)

    A pipeline. A province. And a project that could reshape communities across Alberta. In Fort McMurray last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the proposed Pacific Link pipeline — a major West Coast oil pipeline designated as a Project of National Interest under the Building Canada Act. For Alberta’s rural municipalities, a project of this scale is about more than moving oil from one place to another. It is about roads, housing, water systems and other infrastructure. It is about jobs and investment. It is about economic development—and how communities prepare for growth while ensuring local residents see lasting benefits. Pacific Link could bring significant economic activity to communities across Alberta. But with opportunity comes questions. What will the project mean for rural municipalities? How will local infrastructure keep pace? And how will the economic benefits of a project declared to be of national importance translate into tangible benefits for the communities along its path? There are also questions about what comes next — from planning and approvals to investment and, ultimately, construction. Kara Westerlund is President of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and she joins us to discuss the municipal perspective on Pacific Link, the opportunities it could create, the challenges communities may face, and the questions that remain unanswered. What does a project of national importance mean for rural Alberta? That is our conversation. I’m Christopher Brown,  and This Is Municipal Affairs.  ------ Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2I Spotify: 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

  2. 1d ago

    🔴 BC VOTES 2026: 12 Days to Go (RECORDED LIVE)

    Welcome to Municipal Affairs, Live for this Monday, October 5th. With just 12 days to go until British Columbia’s municipal elections on October 17th, we’re entering the final stretch of what has been an unusually busy election season across the province, with municipal and provincial campaigns taking place at the same time. Today, we want to step away from the campaign rhetoric and hear directly from the people on the ground about what they’re seeing and hearing in their communities. Joining us are Valemount Mayor Owen Torgerson, Cariboo Regional District Director Steve Forseth, both who have been acclaimed to the next four years in office, and City of Courtenay Councillor Evan Jolicoeur who is up for re-election.  So, what is the overlap between these two elections actually looking like at the doors? Has it created confusion for voters? Are municipal issues, from housing and infrastructure to local services and taxation, being drowned out by the larger provincial conversation? We’ll also look at the relationship between municipalities and the provincial government.  Are provincial leaders and local MLA candidates talking about what they can do to support municipalities if elected? And are municipal leaders getting the answers they need? But perhaps the biggest question with just 12 days to go is this: are voters engaged, and are they paying attention to the issues and candidates that will directly shape their communities? Today, we’re going to get the perspective from three municipal leaders who are right in the middle of it.  I’m Christopher Brown, and this is Municipal Affairs Live. ------ Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2I Spotify: 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

  3. 1d ago

    🔴 Vote Vancouver Council Candidate Dr. Rebecca Hasdell (RECORDED LIVE)

    Good Morning and welcome to Municipal Affairs Live.  Vancouver is a city with enormous potential—and enormous challenges. Housing affordability, homelessness, public safety, infrastructure, climate resilience, and the rising cost of living are affecting residents across the city.  The question isn't simply whether we understand these problems. The question is: what are we actually going to do about them? And today, we're having a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Rebecca Hasdell, public health leader, researcher, community advocate, and Vote Vancouver candidate for City Council in this month's Municipal Election. Today we'll talk about the state of Vancouver, the pressures facing families, renters, businesses and neighbourhoods, and what Rebecca and the Vote Vancouver team would do differently at City Hall. Most importantly, we'll talk about solutions—what can realistically be done, what it will cost, and how residents will know whether it's working. Rebecca, welcome to Municipal Affairs.  ------ Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2I Spotify: 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

  4. 4d ago

    🔴 LIVE: MB VOTES 2026 - Understanding The Role Of The CAO - Sponsored by AMM

    Good morning, and welcome back to Municipal Affairs. We’re continuing our special seven-week series looking ahead to the 2026 Manitoba Municipal Election — a series taking you inside municipal government and exploring the people, the positions, and the responsibilities that keep communities across Manitoba moving forward. This special series on the 2026 Manitoba Municipal Election is brought to you in partnership with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. With candidates knocking on doors, hammer in signs on lawns, gladhanding on main street, and pitching their ideas to the voting public, today we are turning our attention to the on employee city council has.  We’re we’re diving into the role of the Chief Administrative Officer  We’re talking about the role of the municipal CAO—especially during an election and the transition to a new council. What does a CAO do, how does that role differ from elected council, and how do municipal administrators remain politically neutral while keeping the business of the municipality moving? We’ll also look at what happens after election day: how CAOs and newly elected councils can build strong working relationships, establish clear expectations, and understand the important line between governance and administration.  Joining us are Nicole Chychota, CAO for the City of Portage la Prairie,  Duane Nicol, CAO for the City of Selkirk,  and Adrienne Bestland, Executive Director of the Manitoba Municipal Administrators. Thank you all for joining us today. Whether you’re running for council, you’re a longtime municipal voter, or you simply want a better understanding of how local government works, today’s conversation will give you a firsthand look at the role fo the CAO. So, with that, let’s get started. This is Municipal Affairs — live. I’m Christopher Brown, and today, we’re asking… What Actually Is A CAO? ------ Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2I Spotify: 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/ This Episode of Municipal Affairs Live was made In Partnership with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities Municipal Affairs is Part of the Cross Border Network.  ©2026

  5. 5d ago

    How Councillors Viewed The First Year

    n September, more than 1,400 municipal leaders from across Alberta gathered in Edmonton for the annual Alberta Municipalities Fall Convention. For many of those leaders, the convention was an opportunity to focus on some of the biggest issues facing communities across the province — from collaboration and growth to infrastructure funding, and the unique challenges facing individual municipalities. We caught up with municipal leaders from across Alberta to ask them a few questions about this year’s convention, their experiences in municipal office, and why they believe it’s important for elected officials from communities across the province to come together every fall to talk about the issues that matter most to Albertans. ------ Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2I Spotify: 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

    How Councillors Viewed The First Year

  6. Sep 30

    What Do B.C.’s Regional Districts Need From the Province?

    From the largest metropolitan area in British Columbia to the province’s smallest communities and rural electoral areas, mayors, councillors and regional district directors from across B.C. descended on Vancouver this past week to discuss the municipal issues affecting their communities. For many rural and regional municipal leaders, the annual UBCM convention provided an important opportunity to sit down directly with provincial ministers and advocate for the priorities of their electoral areas. The four-day convention also gave regional district directors a chance to connect with one another, share concerns and discuss the challenges facing communities across some of the province’s largest geographic areas. Following one of those meetings, we spoke with Thompson-Nicola Regional District Area Director Usoff Tsao about why he was attending the convention, the issues he was hearing from other regional leaders, and his vision for the next four years. Director Tsao has also been acclaimed to his position for the upcoming October 17th election, meaning he will continue representing his electoral area for another term. Heading north to the Cariboo Regional District, we also caught up with Director Barb Bachmeier. For Director Bachmeier, one of the key issues on her mind was roads — and the importance of keeping people moving safely across the vast geographic area of the Cariboo Regional District. The condition and accessibility of roads can have a direct impact on residents, businesses and communities throughout the region, making transportation an important priority for local leaders. We spoke with Director Bachmeier at this year’s convention about her vision for the community she hopes to continue representing after October 17th, her conversations with provincial leaders, and how she wants to work with all levels of government to address the priorities of her community. ------ Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2I Spotify: 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

    What Do B.C.’s Regional Districts Need From the Province?

  7. Sep 30

    Can Alberta’s Growing Towns Keep Up With Growth?

    berta’s Mid-Sized Cities Mayors’ Caucus Summit was held in Red Deer, Alberta, from September 16th to September 18th, bringing together more than 140 municipal leaders from across the province for three days of discussion and collaboration. But it wasn’t just representatives from Alberta’s mid-sized cities who were at the table. Mayors and municipal leaders from some of the province’s fastest-growing towns were also in attendance, taking part in conversations about growth, affordability, infrastructure funding, and the challenges that come with managing rapidly expanding communities. Representatives from both the provincial and federal governments were also on hand, giving municipal leaders an opportunity to speak directly with decision-makers about the issues affecting their communities — and the resources needed to keep pace with growth. For the Mayor of the Town of Canmore, Sean Krausert, being part of the caucus was an opportunity to make sure the voices of Alberta’s growing towns were heard alongside those of the province’s larger municipalities. He spoke with us about why it is important for rapidly growing communities to work together and speak with a unified voice when dealing with both the provincial and federal governments — particularly as municipalities prepare for continued growth in the years ahead. For the Mayor of Sylvan Lake, Megan Hanson, attending this year’s summit was also about learning, collaboration and sharing experiences with other municipal leaders. Sylvan Lake, like many communities represented at the summit, is experiencing growth and the challenges that come with it. We spoke with Mayor Hanson on the first day of the convention about the issues facing her community and how the conversations taking place around the table at the Mid-Sized Cities Mayors’ Caucus reflected the priorities and challenges being experienced in Sylvan Lake. Alberta Municipalities President and City of Grande Prairie Councillor Dylan Bressey was also in attendance. We spoke with President Bressey about the importance of representing the concerns of the municipal leaders gathered at the summit, and how those conversations look from two different perspectives. As president of Alberta Municipalities, he has a province-wide view of the challenges facing municipalities. But as a councillor in Grande Prairie, one of Alberta’s fastest-growing cities, he is also seeing firsthand the pressures that growth is placing on local infrastructure and municipal services. ------ Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2I Spotify: 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

    Can Alberta’s Growing Towns Keep Up With Growth?

  8. Sep 28

    🔴 LIVE: MB VOTES 2026 - From Politics to Governance - Sponsored By AMM

    Good morning, and welcome back to Municipal Affairs. We’re continuing our special seven-week series looking ahead to the 2026 Manitoba Municipal Election — a series taking you inside municipal government and exploring the people, the positions, and the responsibilities that keep communities across Manitoba moving forward. This special series on the 2026 Manitoba Municipal Election is brought to you in partnership with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. With nominations closed across the province and the official lists of nominated candidates being released in hours and days ahead, today we are talking about the next month and what comes next.  We’re talking about turning the politics of the campaign to the Governance of an Municipality.  What changes when the signs come down, the votes are counted, and elected officials take their seats around the council table? We’ll explore how campaigning shapes the way Reeve and Councillors understand their communities, listen to residents, handle competing perspectives, and make decisions that may not please everyone. We’ll also look at the realities of turning campaign conversations and promises into action while balancing budgets, legislation, administration, and the needs of an entire municipality. To help us answer those questions, we’re honoured to be joined by three municipal leaders from across Manitoba. Joining us  From the City of Flin Flon Alison Dallas, From the RM of Roland Jodi Gaultier, andFrom the RM of Cartier Christa Vann Mitchell  Thank you all for joining us today. Whether you’re considering running for council, you’re a longtime municipal voter, or you simply want a better understanding of how local government works, today’s conversation will give you a firsthand look at what it means to govern a municipality after a municipal election.  So, with that, let’s get started. This is Municipal Affairs — live. I’m Christopher Brown, and today, we’re asking… How Do You Go From The Politics Of A Campaign, to Governing a Municipality? ------ Episode made possible by: https://amm.mb.ca/ ------ Listen To The Show: Apple: https://apple.co/41p5I2I Spotify: 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

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From the bustling streets of Vancouver to the serene coastlines of the Maritimes, and all the way up north to the breathtaking landscapes of the Arctic, we're embarking on an expedition that will connect us, inform us, and empower us. This isn't just another show; it's your portal into the pulse of your local community and every community across our vast and diverse country.

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