Looking back on the Future of Municipal Government project

Over the past 18 months, members have actively engaged in ABmunis’ Future of Municipal Government (FOMG) project. The year-end provides an opportunity to look back on the outcomes we have achieved to date.

The purpose of the FOMG project is to release research coordinated by the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy to inform dialogue with municipalities on key topics that are important to their future. What follows is a summary of the papers released to date and outcomes of the engagement on ideas presented in each paper.

Organizing Canadian Local Government

This paper finds that “one size does not fit all,” top-down solutions have mixed results, while collaboration has promising results. 

These findings informed subsequent papers on local governance options and CAO dynamics.

Population Growth & Population Aging in Alberta Municipalities

This paper reinforces the opportunity for collaboration to help create complete communities that attract and retain population. It also reinforces the need for ABmunis to reinvigorate our Welcoming & Inclusive Communities (WIC) initiative. 

ABmunis hosted a WIC Networking virtual meeting for municipalities in late 2023 to share challenges and opportunities. Further WIC Network meetings are planned for the new year.

Provincial Transfers & Financing Municipal Infrastructure in Alberta

This paper finds that provincial transfers have decreased over the last decade. 

The findings helped inform ABmunis’ advocacy for an increase to the Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) funding pot. The paper also lend credence to the principles that ABmunis pursued through our proposals on the LGFF Allocation Formula.

Local Governance in Alberta: Principles, Options & Recommendations

This paper reinforces findings from previous papers that collaboration is key to the future of municipal governments.

Ideas from this paper also informed discussions at ABmunis’ March 2023 President’s Summit on factors that are key to enhancing the effectiveness of collaboration. These discussions were used to develop ABmunis’ Recommendations on the Future of Intermunicipal Collaboration. The recommendations have been shared with the Minister and Ministry of Municipal Affairs to help shape their upcoming review of Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks, which is anticipated in early 2024.

Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation Considerations for Municipal Government

This paper highlights the importance of collaboration to increase community resilience to climate change. The ABmunis Sustainability and Environment Committee proposed work plan involves following-up on the recommendations in the paper to support adaptation that integrates asset management, emergency management, land use planning, etc. The paper also highlights the need for information on climate and emergency management to be delivered in a more practical way to municipalities.

Lonely at the Top: An Examination of the Changing Dynamics for CAOs in Alberta Municipalities

This paper finds that, overall, CAOs are community-minded public servants who take pride in and ownership of their work and have strong relationships with their administrations. The paper also reveals concerning trends of decreasing CAO tenure which can potentially disrupt municipal organizations. The paper finds that negative political dynamics pose the greatest challenge for CAOs and are a factor in increased CAO turnover.

Based on these findings ABmunis is exploring ways we can partner with other municipal associations to bolster awareness of the differences in roles and responsibilities of elected officials and administrators. We are also pursuing opportunities to improve dynamics between council, administration and the public through our Fostering a Culture of Respect Initiative.

Community Engagement: Hearing the Voices of the Public

This paper highlights that public hearings, open houses, and other traditional means of engaging citizens are no longer sufficient for true participatory democracy. For municipalities to improve decision-making, municipalities need to invest in engagement practices that will overcome existing barriers that prevent most residents from engaging. This includes simplifying communications and making the effort to go to where people are along with online engagement. 

Final paper will be published in early 2024

The final paper of this phase of the FOMG project, which will review Alberta’s viability review process, will be released in early 2024. 

To access the recordings to the respective papers, please click here.