Town of Needham, MA’s Post

In 2024, the Region of Durham celebrates 50 years! Did you know that Durham Region began as 21 local municipalities in the counties of Ontario, Northumberland and Durham? The region is now made up of 8 local municipalities. Learn more: bit.ly/3Vjf5Qy #Durham50

Sunday Morning Thoughts: "To assess the scale of Alberta's municipal landscape, one need only look at neighbouring provinces. Saskatchewan, with a population of 1.2 million residents, is represented by 767 municipalities. Meanwhile, Manitoba, with a slightly larger population of 1.3 million, operates with only 137 municipalities." Click on the link below to read the entire article. Don't forget to Subscribe. #Alberta #AlbertaMunicipalities #Editorial

OPINION: Can One Councillor's Actions Sink an Entire Municipality? “This brings us to the core question — why delve into this story? Why ponder the impact of one individual on an entire municipality? The query has lingered in my mind over the past few months as this tale has unfolded. Can one person truly sink a municipality with their actions? Municipal councils are often perceived as cohesive teams, working towards shared goals. However, when one member works against that goal, the entire enterprise can become disoriented, lost in a cycle of uncertainty.” #municipalities #municipality #opinion https://lnkd.in/gd_P3CUM

Rural areas across the UK are often misunderstood by funders and policy makers as affluent places with no real deprivation or need, and that they are places that deserve little or significantly less investment. This stance overlooks the many hidden needs and inequities that exist in the countryside, leaving large swathes of the population disadvantaged simply because of where they live. More needs to be done to recognise and understand the intersectionality of the rural population and the marginalisation they face due to higher costs of living, lower wage employment opportunities and a lack of access to key services and connectivity. With many communities becoming more remote and facing a cycle of dormancy, exacerbated by business closures, service withdrawal and insufficient house building we believe that something needs to change. Plunkett UK advocates for the community ownership model as a way of addressing many of the challenges that currently exist in the countryside. To support this ambition however, we believe that there needs to be a comprehensive, cross-departmental rural strategy at the heart of Government. This is something we are pushing for along with other members of the Rural Coalition - [https://lnkd.in/e7kVbUMS]

Here are opportunities to help inform municipal planning for parks, water, housing, and more. Please only answer surveys from municipalities where you are a resident. https://lnkd.in/g-WwFBf4 #yegplanning

here are some additional thoughts on addressing the housing crisis, affordable food, poverty, and homelessness in Canada: **Housing:** * **Focus on energy efficiency:** Encourage the construction of energy-efficient homes to reduce housing costs and emissions. * **Explore alternative housing models:** Investigate innovative housing models like co-housing and micro-apartments to provide more affordable options. * **Support homeownership:** Offer programs to help first-time homebuyers with down payments and closing costs. **Affordable food:** * **Reduce food waste:** Implement policies and programs to reduce food waste at all stages of the food chain. * **Support local farmers:** Encourage the purchase and consumption of locally-grown food to reduce transportation costs and environmental impact. * **Invest in food literacy programs:** Educate individuals and families about healthy eating habits and how to budget for groceries. **Poverty:** * **Invest in universal basic income:** This program could provide a guaranteed minimum income for all Canadians, reducing poverty and inequality. * **Address income inequality:** Implement policies that address the gap between rich and poor, such as progressive taxation and wealth redistribution. * **Promote financial literacy:** Provide education and resources to help individuals manage their finances and make informed decisions. **Homelessness:** * **Focus on rapid rehousing:** This approach helps individuals experiencing homelessness quickly transition into permanent housing. * **Invest in supportive housing:** Provide housing with on-site support services for individuals with complex needs. * **Combat discrimination:** Address discrimination against homeless individuals in the housing market and other areas of society. **Additionally:** * **Promote social cohesion:** Build a more inclusive society where everyone feels valued and supported. * **Address climate change:** Climate change can exacerbate these issues, so addressing climate change is crucial for long-term solutions. * **Learn from other countries:** Look at successful initiatives implemented in other countries to address similar challenges. These are just some of the many potential solutions to the complex issues of housing, poverty, food costs, and homelessness in Canada. It's important to continue researching, discussing, and experimenting with different approaches to find the most effective and sustainable solutions for the future. Pierre Poilievre Justin Trudeau Jagmeet Singh

The Housing (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 26 March, it will help to deliver the Scottish Government’s ‘New Deal for Tenants’ and some aspects of ‘Housing to 2040’, while contributing to the ambition to end homelessness in Scotland. The Bill responds to the need to improve housing in Scotland and includes reforms to help ensure people have a safe, secure and affordable place to live. It deals with the proportionate use of a landlord’s property for rental purposes, aiming for a fair balance between protection for tenants and the rights of landlords. The proposals will strengthen tenants’ rights to help keep them in their homes and prevent homelessness. Further proposals cover long-term rent controls for private tenancies, new rights to keep pets and make minor changes to let property and stronger protection against eviction.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 26 March, it will help to deliver the Scottish Government’s ‘New Deal for Tenants’ and some aspects of ‘Housing to 2040’, while contributing to the ambition to end homelessness in Scotland. The Bill responds to the need to improve housing in Scotland and includes reforms to help ensure people have a safe, secure and affordable place to live. It deals with the proportionate use of a landlord’s property for rental purposes, aiming for a fair balance between protection for tenants and the rights of landlords. The proposals will strengthen tenants’ rights to help keep them in their homes and prevent homelessness. Further proposals cover long-term rent controls for private tenancies, new rights to keep pets and make minor changes to let property and stronger protection against eviction.

Leadership from Gibsons for local governments and Indigenous communities Repost from SFU Final Report: Town of Gibsons Residents’ Assembly The Town of Gibsons broke new ground this spring as the first municipality in Canada where an Assembly of residents, selected by civic lottery, delivered recommendations to Council to inform their Official Community Plan update. The Town of Gibsons is one of the smallest municipalities in the world to hold an Assembly process, convening 25 residents for five days of learning and deliberation. The Gibsons’ Residents’ Assembly was designed and facilitated by the Renovate the Public Hearing Initiative (RPHI) to support research into models for upstreamed, democratic and inclusive approaches to public participation in land use planning. RPHI's report on the Gibsons’ Assembly details the Assembly process and recommendations, alongside an evaluation in relation to core principles for democratic land-use planning.

Update on municipal support and interventions | Dysfunctional municipalities | You can download the statement and presentation https://ow.ly/HNZi50Q7Psg #localgovernment #cogta