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. SPECIAL: Alberta Mayors React To Budget 2026

    3D AGO

    SPECIAL: Alberta Mayors React To Budget 2026

    For years, Alberta has built its reputation on a simple promise: low taxes, strong communities, and a government that lives within its means. But across this province, a growing number of local leaders are asking a difficult question: low taxes for whom—and at what cost? Last week, the release of Budget 2026 by the Government of Alberta has sparked an immediate and emotional reaction from mayors across Alberta. From small villages on the prairie, to fast-growing towns in the foothills, to major cities driving our provincial economy, municipal leaders say the budget doesn’t just shape provincial priorities—it reshapes their ability to serve the people who elected them. At the heart of the concern is a blunt warning from Alberta Municipalities: while the province says it is not raising taxes, the reality, they argue, is more complicated. Because when the province maintains its own revenues but shifts costs downward, municipalities are left with few options. And municipalities have only one primary tool to pay for services: property taxes. That means the bill doesn’t disappear. It changes hands. Local leaders say this shift comes at a time when communities are already under pressure. Aging roads. Water systems are nearing the end of their lifespan. Emergency services are stretched thin. And social support programs that many say are essential—not optional—to keeping communities safe and stable. They warn that without new investment, critical infrastructure projects may be delayed or cancelled. And when infrastructure fails, the consequences aren’t theoretical. They’re immediate. A broken water line. A closed bridge. A delayed emergency response. And beyond infrastructure, there’s a deeper concern—about sustainability. For more than two decades, municipalities have argued that the balance between provincial revenues and local responsibilities has been out of alignment. The level of government closest to the people is too often the one with the fewest resources. Today, we go beyond the headlines and into the communities themselves. You’ll hear directly from five mayors—from villages, towns, and cities across every region of this province. They represent different populations, different economies, and different political perspectives. But they share one common reality: they are the ones who must translate provincial decisions into local consequences. What does Budget 2026 mean for your property taxes? Your roads? Your emergency services? And perhaps most importantly—your community’s future? This is not just a conversation about numbers on a balance sheet. It’s a conversation about responsibility, affordability, and the evolving relationship between Alberta’s provincial government and the communities that form its foundation. And it starts now. ------0:00 - Opening 0:03:04- Town of Vermilion Mayor Robert Snow  0:21:41 -Town of Sexsmith Mayor Kate Potter  0:43:30 - Town of Claresholm Mayor Brad Sclohsberger  0:54:50 - Town of Coalhust Mayor Deb Florance  1:05:20 - City of Cold Lake Mayor Bob Mattice  1:17:26 - Closing  1:18:17 - Credit ------ Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-show Join The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show  ------ 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

    1h 19m
  2. Mid Size Town Mayors' Caucus On Budget 2026

    3D AGO

    Mid Size Town Mayors' Caucus On Budget 2026

    It’s been a week since the Alberta government tabled Budget 2026, and across the province, mayors and municipal leaders have been digging into the details. For local governments, the provincial budget isn’t just a headline number — it shapes the financial reality communities will be working with for the year ahead. This year, Alberta is projecting $74.6 billion in revenue, alongside a forecast deficit of $9.4 billion. At the same time, the province has laid out a $28.3 billion capital plan over the next three years, with major investments planned for schools, hospitals, and other large-scale infrastructure. But beyond the big provincial numbers, municipalities are asking a more practical question: what does this mean for their communities, their budgets, and ultimately, their taxpayers? Today on the show, we’re joined by the Chair of the Mid-Sized Towns Mayors’ Caucus and Mayor of the Town of Sundre, Richard Warnock. Mid-sized towns — defined as municipalities with populations between 1,000 and 14,999 residents — play a critical role across Alberta. They often serve as regional hubs for surrounding rural areas, but they also face unique challenges when it comes to funding, staffing, and maintaining the infrastructure their communities rely on. We’ll talk about how Alberta’s 2026 budget is landing in those communities, what mayors are seeing as they work through the numbers, and what it could mean for mid-sized towns across the province in the months ahead.------ Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-show Join The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show  ------ 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

    23 min
  3. Conservative Party of BC Leadership Candidate Peter Milobar

    4D AGO

    Conservative Party of BC Leadership Candidate Peter Milobar

    On May 30th, 2026, members of the Conservative Party of British Columbia will choose a new party leader. Leadership contests are not only about party politics—they are also about ideas, priorities, and competing visions for the future of the province. In the weeks leading up to the vote, candidates are outlining their plans for British Columbia, including how they see the role of municipalities and regional districts across the province. Local governments play a central role in delivering services, managing growth, and responding to community needs, so understanding how provincial political leaders view municipal issues is an important part of the broader conversation. Today on Municipal Affairs, we’re joined by Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre and a candidate in the Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership race. Before entering provincial politics, Peter served as Councillor and then Mayor of the City of Kamloops from 2002 to 2017. He also served as Chair of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District in 2011, being the first Mayor of Kamloops to hold that position.  He was first elected as an MLA in the 2017 Provincial Election in the riding of Kamloops-North Thompson, then re-elected in 2020.  We’ll discuss his background, his vision for British Columbia, and how municipalities fit into that vision as the leadership race continues. ------ Learn More About Peter's Campaign:  Website: https://www.petermilobar.ca/ Register to Vote: https://www.petermilobar.ca/join-us/ ------ Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-show Join The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show  ------ 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

    29 min
  4. Twinning of Highway 3 in Budget 2026

    5D AGO

    Twinning of Highway 3 in Budget 2026

    For decades, communities along Highway 3 have made the case for change. Stretching from Medicine Hat through Lethbridge and onward to the mountain corridors of the Crowsnest Pass, the route has served as a critical east-west link for agriculture, industry, and rural communities.  But much of it remains a narrow, two-lane highway — where motorists contend with powerful prairie crosswinds, heavy truck traffic, farm equipment, and limited passing opportunities. Now, the Alberta government’s 2026 budget proposes nearly a quarter-billion dollars to continue twinning the highway in stages, including $152 million over the next three years to expand a 30-kilometre stretch east of Medicine Hat toward Seven Persons.  It builds on progress already underway near Taber, where improvements are nearing completion in one of the province’s fastest-growing agri-food regions. It’s part of a broader vision first championed more than two decades ago: a continuous four-lane trade and transportation corridor linking southern Saskatchewan to British Columbia.  Today, roughly 220 kilometres remain undivided, including key bottlenecks near Bow Island and west toward Fort Macleod.  New funding will also advance engineering and design work through Indigenous and mountain communities, laying the groundwork for future construction. For municipalities, businesses, and residents along the route, the stakes are high. Highway 3 is more than pavement — it’s an economic lifeline, a trade corridor, and for many, a matter of safety. Today, we’re joined by Gordon Reynolds, Mayor of Bow Island and head of the Highway 3 Development Association. He represents the municipalities and industries that have spent years advocating for these upgrades.  We’ll talk about what this new funding means, how it will impact communities along the corridor, and what comes next in the long journey toward a fully twinned Highway 3. ------ Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-show Join The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show  ------ 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

    31 min
  5. RMA President Grades Budget 2026

    5D AGO

    RMA President Grades Budget 2026

    Last week, Alberta’s fiscal future came into sharper focus with the release of Budget 2026 and the province’s new three-year fiscal plan.  In a challenging economic environment, the Government of Alberta has laid out a roadmap that balances deficit spending, economic growth ambitions, and major capital investments—all while municipalities across the province assess what it means for their communities. The numbers tell a complex story. Alberta is projecting $74.6 billion in revenue this year, alongside a forecast deficit of $9.4 billion. At the same time, the province has committed to a $28.3 billion capital plan over three years, with significant investments in schools, hospitals, and other large-scale infrastructure. But for rural municipalities, the picture is more complicated. The Rural Municipalities of Alberta says Budget 2026 reflects difficult fiscal realities, but also represents a missed opportunity—particularly when it comes to rural infrastructure. Rural communities across Alberta are currently facing an estimated $17 billion infrastructure deficit, affecting roads, bridges, and essential transportation networks that support not only local residents, but the industries that drive Alberta’s economy. While the province continues to invest in major projects, funding reductions to key programs like the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program, combined with rising education property taxes, are raising concerns about the capacity of rural municipalities to maintain core infrastructure and deliver essential services. At the same time, there are signals of progress. Funding increases for water infrastructure, a renewed commitment to fully fund Grants in Place of Taxes, and targeted investments in rural healthcare all point to areas where collaboration between the province and municipalities continues to evolve. The province’s broader vision—focused on expanding oil and gas production, attracting data centres, and supporting emerging industries—depends heavily on the strength of rural Alberta. And municipal leaders say that without reliable local infrastructure, economic growth simply cannot happen. Today’s guest is Kara Westerlund, President of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta. She joins us to discuss the realities facing rural communities, the challenges and opportunities presented in Budget 2026, and why investment in rural infrastructure may ultimately determine Alberta’s economic future. Because while provincial budgets are measured in billions, their true impact is often felt on the local roads, bridges, and services that keep communities—and the economy—moving. ------ Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-show Join The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show  ------ 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

    25 min
  6. FCSSAA President Talks Budget 2026

    6D AGO

    FCSSAA President Talks Budget 2026

    Last week, the spotlight was on the 2026 Alberta Provincial Budget—and this week it's on what it means for the preventive social services that quietly hold our communities together. In what has been described as an extremely difficult fiscal year, the Government of Alberta has chosen to maintain funding for Family and Community Support Services—known as FCSS—at $105 million. That funding supports municipalities and Métis Settlements across Alberta, helping deliver programs focused not on crisis response, but on prevention—supporting families, youth, and seniors before challenges escalate into emergencies. The decision has drawn a measured response from the Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta, which represents FCSS programs across the province. On one hand, maintaining funding in a tight budget year signals that prevention remains a priority. But on the other, flat funding comes at a time when communities are facing rising costs, population growth, and increasingly complex social needs. Finance Minister Nate Horner emphasized that the province’s responsibility is to families, workers, and communities. And FCSS leaders agree—pointing out that prevention is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce long-term pressure on healthcare, justice, and emergency response systems. Still, the challenge is clear. Municipalities and community partners are being asked to do more with the same resources, even as demand grows. Today’s guest, Kayla Blanchette, President of the Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta, joins us to talk about what this budget means on the ground, why prevention matters more than ever, and what communities will be watching for in the years ahead. Because when it comes to building resilient communities, the biggest impacts often come from the investments people never see—the ones that prevent crisis before it begins. This is Municipal Affairs.------ Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-show Join The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show  ------ 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

    26 min
  7. What SUMA Is Looking For In The Saskatchewan Budget?

    FEB 27

    What SUMA Is Looking For In The Saskatchewan Budget?

    The date is approaching. The numbers are being finalized. And across Saskatchewan, municipalities are waiting to see what the provincial budget will deliver. Budgets are more than balance sheets — they are statements of priorities. They determine whether communities can invest in infrastructure, maintain essential services, and plan for the future. And this year, those decisions come at a time when many local governments are facing rising costs, growing demands, and increasing economic uncertainty. The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association has already made its case. Their message is clear: a strong and vibrant Saskatchewan depends on strong and resilient municipalities in every region of the province.  Their list of priorities reflects the realities on the ground from infrastructure pressures to fiscal sustainability, and the need for reliable provincial partnership. Recently, SUMA President Randy Goulden joined us to talk about what urban municipalities are hoping to see in this year’s provincial budget, where mayors and councils are feeling the greatest financial strain, and what the outcome could mean, not only if the province delivers on those requests, but also if it doesn’t. This is Municipal Affairs. ------ This edition of Municipal Affairs was sponsored by: https://www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca/ ------ Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-show Join The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show  ------ 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

    31 min
  8. Mayors Sound Off On Police Funding Model

    FEB 25

    Mayors Sound Off On Police Funding Model

    Across Alberta, a growing number of mayors and councillors are sounding the alarm. They say a major shift in how policing is funded could dramatically reshape local budgets—and ultimately, what residents pay in property taxes. Last month, the Government of Alberta introduced a recalculation to its police funding model. On paper, it’s a formula change. But on the ground, municipal leaders say it’s something far more serious. Some communities are now facing increases of up to 320 percent in their policing costs over the next five years. For many smaller and rural municipalities, policing is already one of their largest expenses. These new costs could force councils into difficult decisions—raising taxes, cutting services, or both. And residents may soon feel the impact in their monthly bills. Tonight, we speak directly with two leaders navigating this uncertainty in real time. Tara Elwood, mayor of Alberta Beach, and Bridgitte Coninx, mayor of Onoway. They’ll share how these funding changes are affecting their communities, the strain on their municipal budgets, and the tough choices they may soon have to make. Because beyond the numbers and formulas, this is about the future of small-town Alberta—and who ultimately pays the price. This is Municipal Affairs. ------ Support The Show Today: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/support-the-show Join The Show: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/be-part-of-the-show  ------ 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

    47 min
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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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