Municipal governments at the forefront of societal change

I am thrilled and honoured to be joining the Municipal World team as Executive Editor.

I have had the opportunity to view municipal government up close and personal from a variety of angles, first by covering municipal government as a newspaper journalist and most recently from the inside of municipal government as policy advisor in a mayor’s office.

What I have learned along the way is that the resources of government at any level are finite, and nowhere more so than at the municipal level, where the revenue generation tool box is most limited. Municipal leaders, whether they are staff or elected people, need to make smart choices in order allocate these finite resources in the most effective way possible. That means the best municipal staff and elected people are thirsty for knowledge and want to learn about new ways to do things better than ever before.

Municipal governments are often at the forefront of societal change and innovation. Take the humble street light. How many people know that municipalities have been transitioning to low energy LED, which is good for the environment and saves money? In the near future, street lights will be connected to the internet, collect data, and talk to each other.

Energy consumption and our approach to climate change are increasingly going to be guided by municipal decisions in their own operations. Municipal governments are going to be leading the way for the rest of the community in these areas and more.

We need to address homelessness and create more social and affordable housing. Our communities need to become more inclusive and ease the social barriers so that people can reach their full potential. Reconciliation with indigenous people is a priority for Canada and increased municipal-indigenous collaboration is part of the way forward.

Rural, northern and small communities are key to the strength of our economy and need to be better heard. How do we address and reverse the infrastructure deficits that all our communities are facing? How do we ensure that communities are better served by public transit?

Municipal governments were at the forefront of Canada’s response to the world-wide pandemic. How can they learn from this experience to ensure people are protected when the next public health emergency happens?

Municipalities play an important role in keeping people safe and secure. That means we need to continually re-examine the role of policing in our communities. How do we best address the balance faced by our police in providing core and non-core public safety?

Municipal World magazine is the best-placed publication in Canada to bring forward the best and most interesting new ideas so that municipal leaders can better serve their communities.