Recently, residents of Okotoks learned that it is illegal to skate on a neighbourhood pond. People who lived in the neighbourhood since it was built a decade ago were not aware that town council had changed the rules, making such a fun activity unlawful for their children. A town councillor said that she wants to save lives, though no lives have been threatened.
Municipal Government
If Calgary city council doesn’t wanted to be treated like a ‘farm team’ they should demand real responsibility
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi recently accused the provincial government of treating the City of Calgary like a ‘farm team.’ I’m not sure that was the best analogy, as a pro-sports team can call up prospects from a farm team at any time. A better sports analogy to illustrate the relationship would be between a micromanaging general manager, and a subservient coaching staff.
Media Release – Municipal Transparency Improving Across Canada: Sixth Annual Local Government Performance Index
The Frontier Centre for Public Policy has today released the sixth annual edition of its influential Local Government Performance Index. The Index ranks the top 100 Canadian cities on their financial transparency and performance over the 2011 financial year.
Losing Sight Of The Issues: Birds, bowling, and bags: when city councils take on needless battles
Councillors have also spent time debating and voting on matters they have no power to actually address, whether it be banning shark-fin soup, opposing the Iraq War, or ending the NHL lockout — just this week, a Vancouver city councillor put forward a motion to write a letter to the NHL and the players’ association urging them to end the standoff (it passed).
Featured News
Policy Restrictions have Caused the Housing Crisis
The choice we face is clear: a modest expansion of greenfield development or greater housing poverty For 18 years, I have been monitoring international housing affordability, as author or co-author of the Demographia Housing Affordability series. The latest...
Leaders on the Frontier | So Much More We Can Be with the Hon. Grant Devine, Premier of Saskatchewan 1982-1991
The April 1982 Saskatchewan election proved to be a major turning point in the province's history. Over its nine years in office, the Devine government commenced and completed numerous policy initiatives in spite of considerable challenges including two recessions. ...
Media Release – Smart Local Government: The Frontier Centre points to outcomes, not rules, as necessary for Canada’s cities
“Good local government law promotes good local government,” writes Frontier senior fellow Larry Mitchell in a new look at reforming Canada’s antiquated municipal government legislation.
Report Urges Reporting of Assets
“The District of Maple Ridge ranked 59th out of 75 municipalities for financial reporting standards in a recent report by a right-wing think tank. The ranking was in a report by the Frontier Centre For Public Policy in its Local Government Performance Index 2009 report. The Centre is based out of Winnipeg.”
Spending Rule a Long-term Solution to Spending Woes: The case for capping government spending to inflation plus population growth.
Saskatchewan should look to adopt a quasi-constitutional convention that limits the growth in expenditure to population growth plus inflation.
Measuring up Red Deer: 2009 Local Government Performance Index
PowerPoint slides which accompanied the Meeting for Policy Experts speech by David Seymour in Red Deer December 8, 2009.
Municipal Governments Best in West: B.C. governments spend less and report better.
A look at why British Columbian Municipalities performed well in the 2009 Local Government Performance Index.
Media Release – 2009 Local Government Performance Index: Frontier’s third annual report on municipal finances and reporting standards
An easily accessible index of financial statistics and assessments of reporting standards for 88 Canadian municipalities.
3rd/4th Annual Local Government Performance Index
An easily accessible index of financial statistics and assessments of reporting standards for 88 Canadian municipalities.
Two Useful Questions About That $50,000 Raise: Regina needs to add performance measurements to justify a raise
Public sector management can expect fair market remuneration; however their pay should be linked to performance. In the case of Regina city manager Glen Davies his $50,000 per year increase would be easier to swallow if the city adopted better and more transparent performance measurements.
Seeing Through a Glass Darkly–At City Hall: A measurement of local government transparency in Saskatchewan’s two major cities
Saskatchewan residents could have real issues to vote on if their cities reported their performance more transparently.