A selection of municipal news from elsewhere, and other readings of interest.
Today’s notes a bunch of integrity matters, budgets in other municipalities, but first a headline I enjoy way too much …
Peak Prairies headline: “Home to the world’s largest lamp, this small Alberta village is deciding its next chapter”
Travelling the Prairies to visit all the ‘world’s largest’ things has been a bucket list item of mine since 2004 when I rode a Greyhound bus between Winnipeg and Edmonton. Seemingly every population centre had the world’s biggest of something.
These roadside attractions are known as the Giants of the Prairies, and there is a Wikipedia page listing them. A 2004 episode of Corner Gas uses this very Prairies thing as a plot device.
Wild – a municipal council suspends (temporarily removes) member without proper investigation: The incident is not disputed, a council member used profanity that was captured on a council meeting livestream. Instead of following the Municipal Act process of engaging an integrity commissioner to investigate and make recommendations, Smith Falls decided to unlaterally suspend the coucnillor from meetings for 45 days. CBC Ottawa details what happened, and why the actions of the Council may not be legal.
Fourth Investigation for Harassing Staff: A Dryden councillor, is now under investigation for a fourth time for harassing staff.
Whitby councillor files complaint against Council colleagues, second councillor to file: Metroland is reporting on the latest development in a saga I noted last May. An extremely short version is that two councillors alleged there was ongoing anti-Asian racism. The mayor denies this. An unsigned Integrity Commissioner report, which emphasised it did not investigate the actual allegations, resulted in two councillors being sanctioned one week’s pay for making allegations.
The human rights complaints both seek apologies, acknowledgement, and reversal of the sanctions. The Metroland story also details the divided views regarding the filing and the underlying matters.
Much of the current situation would’ve been avoided if Whitby Council had a practicing lawyer as IC instead of a firm of convenience.
Strong Mayor Veto Overturned in Timmins: Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau removed $740,000 for a pickleball centre and ballfield soil from the municipal budget using her veto powers. The Council overturned her veto in a 7-2 vote.
Tie Vote at Thunder Bay Council Defeats Motion Against 9.1% Police Budget: Thunder Bay’s police force will get the 9.1 per cent increase they requested, following a 6-6 vote that defeated a Council motion to request the Chief of Police to ‘provide further information and potential reductions, cost savings or adjustments.’
There are increasing concerns regarding police budget increases across Ontario. No municipal council has yet rejected a police budget. If any council were to reject a police budget, the matter would go to a provincial tribunal that would review the budget request in a process that is seen as heavily tilted in favour of local police boards seeking budget increases.
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Published: January 30, 2026
Last updated: January 30, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
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