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Municipal Government

Ms. Smith Leaves Edmonton

Mar 29, 2015 | , ,

The Wildrose supporters who gathered to choose a new leader Saturday night broke into raucous cheers when they heard that former leader Danielle Smith had been defeated for the Conservative nomination in High River. Ms. Smith had made herself infamous in Wildrose...

Featured News

City politicians focus on utopian visions while citizens just want simple things, like passable roads

Dec 19, 2012 | , ,

It’s the new urban blight. Across the country, city governments are in varying states of disarray, if not chaos. The range is wide, from the badly governed fiasco in Toronto to outright corruption in Montreal and boondoggle-prone governments in Vancouver, Calgary and other Western cities. Taxes are rising, spending is soaring, but roads are crumbling and the basics often ignored.

The Case Against Nova Brunsward

Dec 7, 2012 | , ,

Using the combined purchasing power of the three Maritime governments would indeed be a good idea, because it would save taxpayers money. But it would do nothing to solve the problem of the three provinces being “terribly over-governed,” which has been used as an argument to advance the union by Senator Mike Duffy and the National Post editorial board.

Former Toronto Mayor Calls for De-Amalgamating the Megacity

Dec 4, 2012 | , ,

Amalgamating the seven municipalities that now constitute the City of Toronto was quite likely the biggest mistake made by the Government of Ontario in modern history. It was hugely unpopular — 76.8 percent of residents opposed amalgamation — and failed to create the projected savings. As I’ve argued in the past, the City of Toronto, as currently constituted, is essentially ungovernable.

A milestone in public safety

Dec 3, 2012 | , ,

Many North Americans still view cities as dangerous places. Indeed, there are some neighbourhoods in some cities (primarily American cities) that are extremely dangerous. There are also a few Canadian neighbourhoods that can be described as uncomfortable.

A “Pinko Commie” Former Toronto City Councilor Talking Sense On Taxes

Nov 23, 2012 | , ,

Those of you who follow municipal politics may recall hearing of Adam Giambrone. Giambrone is a former chair of the Toronto Transit Commission, and former mayoral candidate. While his campaign was derailed by some relatively minor personal issues, he is still seen as a young, up and comer in Toronto’s political community. But Giambrone has penned a recent article that should remind us all that people who are derided as “pinko commies” sometimes have good ideas about economic policies.

Alberta PCs Plan Overhaul of Election Finance Law

Nov 20, 2012 | , ,

Tom Flanagan, the University of Calgary professor who has worked for Wildrose and the federal Conservatives, has called Alberta’s election finance law “embarrassing … the fiscal foundation of the one-party system.” The Frontier Centre of Public Policy argued for more transparency. The Parkland Institute wants the donation limit slashed to something like the federal limit of about $1,100.