Municipal Affairs

Cross Border Network

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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.

12/23/2025

One Year: A Municipal Journey

As we close out the final episode of Municipal Affairs for 2025, and begin to look ahead to 2026, I want to take a moment to pause and reflect—if you’ll allow me. *************************************************** 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 ©2025

10 min
12/19/2025

Year in Review 2025: FCM Big City Mayors' Caucus

Over the past twelve months, municipal leaders from coast to coast have been navigating a perfect storm of pressures. Housing affordability and homelessness reached levels we’ve never seen before, pushing our shelter systems — and our compassion — to the breaking point. At the same time, rapid population growth continued to strain the very foundations of urban life: public transit, roads, water systems, community services… all aging faster than we can repair them, and all expected to serve more people than ever. And then there’s the fiscal reality. Cities faced growing budget stress, making tough choices between raising taxes, cutting services, or delaying vital infrastructure. Residents felt it. Businesses felt it. And mayors — often with the fewest revenue tools — were stuck trying to balance growing needs with shrinking dollars. Layer onto that the social challenges of mental health, addictions, and public safety — challenges that don’t stop at municipal borders, yet land squarely on municipal doorsteps. And hovering above it all is the uncertainty of intergovernmental funding. Cities know they can’t tackle these crises alone; provinces and the federal government know it too… but agreement on the ‘how’ has been harder to come by. And yet, amid all these pressures, 2025 was also a year of remarkable collaboration and determination. Mayors across the country — especially through coalitions like FCM’s Big City Mayors’ Caucus — spoke in a united voice louder than we’ve heard in years. City leadership showed that these challenges are shared, systemic, and solvable — if Canada’s governments pull in the same direction. We’re taking a closer look at what the past year has meant for our largest cities, what progress has been made, and what opportunities lie ahead as we move into 2026. And there’s no better person to help us unpack it than our guest: the Chair of the FCM Big City Mayors’ Caucus, and the Mayor of London, Ontario — Josh Morgan. We’ll talk about the state of urban Canada, what keeps big-city mayors up at night, and why coordinated action has never been more important. Stay with us — the conversation starts right after this. *************************************************** 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 ©2025

29 min
12/19/2025

Year in Review 2025: Alberta Municipalities

Today we’re taking a deep dive into the year that was — 2025, a year that tested Alberta’s municipalities, reshaped policy debates, and reminded us just how essential local government is to the everyday lives of Albertans. 2025 was an election year — on October 20th, nearly every community in Alberta headed to the polls. However, even before voters cast their ballots, the conversation around local democracy was intensifying. From concerns over new rules banning electronic vote tabulators to questions about how municipal elections should be run in the future, governance itself became a headline. At the same time, municipalities were wrestling with long-standing fiscal tensions. The province’s budget brought a partial restoration of Grants in Place of Taxes and a welcome boost to infrastructure funding — but it wasn’t enough to quiet the alarm bells ringing across the province. The theme we heard again and again? Costs rising, responsibilities growing, funding lagging behind. And the frustration didn’t stop there. But 2025 also brought forward ideas — big ones. At the Alberta Municipalities Convention, members pushed for expanded local revenue tools, including the much-debated municipal accommodation tax. Alberta Municipalities pressed the province to take over collection of education property taxes, and they renewed calls for long-term, stable funding that keeps pace with population growth and inflation. And in the midst of these debates, local leaders continued to innovate, taking on water governance, policing pressures, and regional planning challenges with limited resources but relentless determination.So today, we’re unpacking the highs, the lows, and the turning points of 2025 with someone who’s had a front-row seat to all of it. Joining us is the President of Alberta Municipalities, Dylan Bressey. We’ll talk election changes, funding battles, new revenue ideas, and what municipalities need most as we look toward 2026 and beyond. 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 ©2025

33 min
12/17/2025

Year In Review 2025: FCM Rural Forum

Over the last twelve months, rural Canada has moved from the margins of national conversation to the centre of some of our biggest policy debates. Earlier this year, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Rural Forum played an especially influential role—raising the voices of small communities, farm towns, northern and remote regions, and the municipalities that keep Canada’s economic engine running quietly but powerfully in the background. This was the year FCM released The Future of Rural Canada, a sweeping national roadmap that underscored both the urgency and the promise of rural life today. The report didn’t mince words: rural communities remain rich in potential—innovation, natural resources, economic opportunity—but they’re also carrying disproportionate burdens. Aging infrastructure. Limited fiscal capacity. Persistent gaps in broadband and cellular service. Housing shortages. Public safety pressures. The accelerating impacts of climate change. These challenges aren’t abstract—they’re shaping daily life and the future viability of communities that feed the country, power it, move its goods, and anchor its cultural identity. Yet 2025 has also been a year of possibility. The Rural Forum’s work pushed for a renewed relationship between all orders of government—a National Prosperity Partnership built on collaboration rather than siloed policymaking. It reminded us that investing in rural Canada isn’t charity. It’s a strategy. When rural communities thrive, the whole country becomes more resilient, more competitive, and more connected. We’re speaking with someone who has been at the forefront of this effort. Our guest is the Chair of FCM’s Rural Forum and Councillor for Portage la Prairie, Joe Masi. Few people understand the challenges and opportunities facing rural municipalities as clearly as he does. 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 ©2025

32 min
12/17/2025

Year in Review 2025: Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities

Today we take a step back and look at the year that was — a year of challenge, change, and unmistakable movement across rural Saskatchewan. To do so we’re joined by the President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Bill Huber, to reflect on a defining year for rural communities and the leaders who serve them. 2025 was a year where rural issues pushed firmly into the provincial spotlight. From the halls of the annual SARM Convention in March — where more than two thousand delegates gathered to wrestle with everything from global trade tensions to the state of rural healthcare — to the long summer days of division meetings that saw SARM leadership travel more than 2,200 kilometres to hear directly from municipalities, it was a year rooted in engagement and action. It was also a year of major announcements. The provincial budget delivered a record-setting Municipal Revenue Sharing package — over three hundred sixty-one million dollars — giving rural municipalities a little more breathing room in the face of rising costs. And more than thirty million dollars in infrastructure funding targeted the roads, bridges, and culverts that keep Saskatchewan’s economy moving. But the story of 2025 wasn’t just about dollars and policy documents. It was about real concerns: abandoned buildings and derelict properties becoming safety hazards. An overstretched healthcare system is struggling to reach remote corners of the province. And persistent pressure on producers — from invasive pests to international tariffs — is weighing heavily on rural livelihoods. Through it all, SARM continued to push forward: calling for support, amplifying local voices, and navigating the balance between environmental regulation, economic reality, and community well-being. So we’re taking a closer look. What did 2025 mean for rural Saskatchewan? What progress was made? And what remains unfinished as we head into 2026? SARM President Bill Huber joins us to break it all down. Stay with us — Municipal Affairs starts right now. *************************************************** 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 ©2025

37 min
12/17/2025

Year in Review 2025: Association of Yukon Communities

It’s been a year of transformation for Yukon communities — one marked by historic investments, renewed partnerships, and a growing sense of momentum. From Dawson City to Watson Lake, and from the Village of Mayo to the capital in Whitehorse, municipalities saw unprecedented support aimed at strengthening the services and infrastructure that residents rely on every day. Major federal-territorial funding agreements took shape as well, opening the door to long-term improvements in water systems, roads, recreation facilities, and community infrastructure across the territory. We saw progress in Whitehorse transit expansion, key upgrades to water and wastewater systems in Mayo and the Hillcrest area, and significant recreation investments — most notably the major new Dawson City Recreation Centre, a project that’s set to reshape community life for the entire Klondike region. And through it all, municipalities, Yukon First Nations, and the territorial and federal governments continued to work together on shared priorities: housing-related infrastructure, waste-management planning, and the essential groundwork that supports healthy, livable communities. To help us make sense of this big year — and to look ahead to what comes next — we sat down with the President of the Association of Yukon Communities, Lauren Hanchar. Our conversation covers the wins, the worries, and the work still to be done. So stay with us — as we take a look back at a pivotal year for Yukon municipalities, right here on 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 ©2025

18 min
12/15/2025

Year in Review 2025: Association of Manitoba Municipalities

2025 was anything but quiet in the Keystone Province. Municipalities faced a complex mix of challenges: rising pressures on mental health response, growing concerns about public safety, vandalism and harassment aimed at local officials, and the day-to-day reality of delivering services with stretched resources. We watched municipalities call loudly for legislative reform, seek stronger federal commitments on housing, bail, and policing, and push for renewed investment in the water, wastewater, and infrastructure that keep our communities moving. But 2025 also offered moments of real progress. Municipal leaders saw cautious wins in the provincial throne speech. Communities secured vital infrastructure grants. Rural and urban councils alike advanced new priorities, passed impactful resolutions, and strengthened their collaboration in the face of adversity. We saw forward-thinking initiatives — like a new toolkit to help municipal leaders combat harassment and hate — setting a precedent for the entire country. It was a year of highs and lows… resilience and reflection… frustration and hope. So where do Manitoba’s municipalities go from here? How do local leaders move forward after a year that demanded so much of them — and revealed just how essential they are to the province’s future? To help us unpack the year that was, and look ahead to the year that will be, we’re joined by someone who has been at the centre of it all: Association of Manitoba Municipalities President Kathy Valentino. She’s here to talk about the challenges, the triumphs, and the road ahead for every community across the Keystone Province. Stay with us — 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 ©2025

24 min
12/15/2025

Year in Review 2025: Rural Municipalities of Alberta

We’re taking a deep dive into a year that has been anything but ordinary for rural Alberta. Over the past twelve months, Rural Municipalities of Alberta have found themselves at a crossroads — balancing real challenges with emerging opportunities. It’s been a year marked by sweeping legislative change, growing financial pressures, and a renewed spotlight on the essential role rural communities play in the province’s economic and social fabric. From the passage of Bill 50 — which reshaped municipal governance and swept away long-standing codes of conduct — to the sobering reality of more than a quarter-billion dollars in unpaid oil and gas property taxes, rural municipalities have been navigating a landscape where stability can feel increasingly uncertain. Add to that a rural infrastructure deficit now measured in the tens of billions, and you begin to see the scale of what local leaders are confronting: aging roads and bridges, stretched operating budgets, and the constant pressure to do more with less. At the same time, these communities continue to demonstrate resilience. New provincial funding streams, targeted infrastructure investments, and collaborative work on tax accountability show that momentum is building in some areas. And rural Alberta remains at the heart of agriculture, energy, and transportation — sectors that not only drive the provincial economy, but define Alberta’s identity. Yet the year wasn’t only about policy and finances. Extreme drought conditions forced some municipalities to declare agricultural disasters, reminding us how vulnerable rural economies are to the shifting climate — and how urgently governments must respond. So today, we ask: Where does rural Alberta go from here? How do municipalities strengthen governance, secure stable funding, and ensure their communities continue to thrive? And what opportunities lie ahead in 2026 and beyond? To help us untangle these questions, we’re joined by someone who has been at the centre of these conversations: Kara Westerlund, President of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta. Stay with us, as 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 ©2025

38 min

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.

Channel

Cross Border Network
Creator

Cross Border Network
Years Active

2023 - 2025
Episodes

402
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Cross Border Network
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Municipal Affairs

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