Southern Alberta municipalities say emergency preparedness critical
From 72-hour emergency kit tips to full-on disaster simulations, several southern Alberta municipalities are preparing for potential emergencies during Emergency Preparedness Week.
#emergency #preparedness #municipalities #SouthernAlberta #Canada #Education
https://globalnews.ca/news/11169295/southern-alberta-municipalities-emergency-preparedness/
Southern Alberta municipalities say emergency preparedness critical
From 72-hour emergency kit tips to full-on disaster simulations, several southern Alberta municipalities are preparing for potential emergencies during Emergency Preparedness Week.
#emergency #preparedness #municipalities #SouthernAlberta #Canada #Education
https://globalnews.ca/news/11169295/southern-alberta-municipalities-emergency-preparedness/
When it comes to standing up to #Trump, I laud #Maine Governor #JanetMills. But when it comes to #Wabanaki #Sovereignty, building wind terminals on undeveloped islands (#SearsIsland / #Wahsumkik ), destroying trees to supply #WesternMass with electrcitiy, or building highways through farmland (#MDOT), we definitely DO NOT always see eye-to-eye!
Governor opposed to latest change to #SettlementAct backed by #WabanakiNations
by Emma Davis
Wed, April 9, 2025
"Discussion of legislation to afford the Wabanaki Nations more authority over their land revealed that Gov. Janet Mills does not support the change, presenting a steep path for a plan that otherwise has bipartisan support.
"After not testifying during the public hearing last week, the governor’s counsel, Jerry Reid, told the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that Mills’ concerns stem from the inability to predict the future needs of state government, an issue also raised in written testimony from the #MaineDepartmentOfTransportation, which was made available after the hearing.
"When pressed by committee members, Reid said he doesn’t have a specific example of an infrastructure project that would warrant seizing tribal land but that, 'We need to write the law mindful of the potential for problems.'
"While Reid and Wabanaki leaders noted that progress has and continues to be made to improve the relationship between the state and Wabanaki Nations, Reid added, 'the fact that we have such a good relationship right now might not always be true.'
"The U.S. government can seize private property for public use, a principle known as eminent domain, however that authority is restricted by the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which requires just compensation for land taken, as well as some federal laws.
"The 1834 federal Indian Nonintercourse Act prohibited land transactions with tribes unless authorized by Congress. However, the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act specified that that federal law was not applicable to the #HoultonBand of #Maliseet Indians, the #PassamaquoddyTribe and the #PenobscotNation.
"This is the act that has overall resulted in the Tribes being treated more akin to #municipalities than #SovereignNations. So far, sweeping changes to the act have failed due to opposition from Mills, but the governor, lawmakers and Wabanaki leaders have successfully made some targeted adjustments, including expanding tribal authority to prosecute crimes last year.
"The legislation being considered this session, #LD958, would amend the Settlement Act to prohibit the state from exercising eminent domain on trust and reservation land, which is protected under federal law, though fee land — or private property for which the owner owns the title — would still be subject to the state taking.
"The bill would also amend the 2023 #MikmaqNationRestorationAct to make this change for the Mi’kmaq Nation, which wasn’t included in the Settlement Act.
"On Tuesday, the Taxation Committee unanimously voted in favor of a bill to ensure equal tax treatment among all of the Wabanaki Nations, which Mills supports. #LD982 would provide the #MikmaqNation the same rights to sales tax revenue on its land that the other three tribes of the Wabanaki Nations were granted in 2022 through an amendment to the Settlement Act.
State hasn’t exercised this authority in decades, but argues it’s necessary
"The state hasn’t exercised eminent domain over #TribalLands since the #SettlementAct. However, testimony from Wabanaki leaders and state government officials underscore that it is a possibility."
Source:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/governor-opposed-latest-change-settlement-185134791.html
#MaineSettlementAct #EminentDomain #LandTheft #FirstNations #WabanakiConfederancy
#MaineFirstNations #Maine #MainePol
#NativeAmericanNews #TribalSovereignty
Interesting analysis "Multiple countries in Europe are critically dependent on services provided by Microsoft. Querying mail-servers teaches that in some countries, over 70% of all public services rely on this American provider."
https://jurgen.gaeremyn.be/2025/03/08/european-critical-dependencies/
#Microsoft #bigtech #EU #municipalities #mail #ICT #IT #government #dependencies #digitalsovereignty
Housing and mental health a hot topic at the SUMA Convention
Every year at the SUMA Convention in Saskatoon, resolutions are shared by municipalities as a way to bring their issues to the forefront.
#housing #mentalhealth #convention #municipalities #Saskatoon #Health
https://globalnews.ca/news/11133702/housing-and-mental-health-suma-convention/
Still time to sign in to watch online! (https://www.torontomu.ca/centre-for-immigration-and-settlement/news-events/2025/04/lunch-and-learn-cities-of-migration/ #immigration #municipalities #SenateofCanada #Toronto #tmu #yeg #cdnpoli #abpoli
https://www.alojapan.com/1233141/japan-projects-up-to-298000-fatalities-in-potential-nankai-trough-megaquake/ Japan projects up to 298,000 fatalities in potential Nankai Trough ‘megaquake’ #2011Earthquake #CabinetOffice #DisasterRelatedDeaths #EconomicDamage #evacuation #FukushimaNuclearDisaster #Japan #JapanMeteorologicalAgency #JapanNews #Kyushu(Island) #Megaquake #municipalities #NankaiTrough #news #PhilippineSea #Shizuoka #tsunami Japan has estimated that up to 298,000 people could die if a “megaquake” of about magnitude 9 occurs along the Nankai…
Who should you vote for at the 2025 county and municipal elections? Yle's election compass can help
With both municipal and county elections approaching in Finland, Yle has two election compasses to help voters navigate their candidate choices.
#Politics #Elections #Municipalities #Welfareregions #Homecountry #Municipal elections
Finland to grant municipalities more control over e-scooters and micromobility https://www.byteseu.com/840772/ #authority #control #EScooters #Finland #Finnish #give #Government #micromobility #more #municipalities #proposal #vehicles
Interesting case from last year about the enforceability of waivers by municipalities in Texas. The rules that distinguish “government" functions, subject to immunity, and “proprietary” functions are confusing, but waivers must be in writing.
#law #contracts #municipalities #SovereignImmunity #waivers #TobyKeith
New law: Municipalities must offer immigrants courses on Finnish history, social norms
The new Integration Act obliges municipalities to invest more in helping immigrants settle in. For example, newcomers must be offered orientation in a familiar language.
Kosovo’s authorities close parallel institutions run by the country’s ethnic Serb minority https://www.byteseu.com/657332/ #AlbinKurti #EthnicAlbanianSeparatists #EthnicSerb #EuropeanUnion #FinancialInstitutions #Institutions #Kosovo #municipalities #ParallelStructures #PRISTINA #RepublicOfKosovo #Serbia
Next, On the Front Lines of Canadian Governance: the report of my own Senate inquiry on the challenge and opportunities facing Canadian municipalities, large and small. This was a very ambitious undertaking for my office, and I am so proud of all my Senate colleagues, and my wonderful Senate staff, who made this multimedia report possible. https://senatorpaulasimons.ca/en/municipalities-inquiry/ #SenateofCanada #Canada #municipalities #AlbertaMunicipalities #cdnpoli #abpoli
Manitoba development plan axed after province introduces opt-out bill
A long-term development plan for 18 Manitoba municipalities has been officially halted, after the province introduced legislation allowing municipalities to opt out.
#development #plan #municipalities #Manitoba #Consumer #Economy #Lifestyle #Politics
https://globalnews.ca/news/10926619/plan-20-50-axed-province-opt-out-bill/
"The average #carbonfootprint of households living in the centre of large, population-dense #urban #cities is about 50 percent below average, while households in distant #suburbs are up to twice the average... [and] wipes out any benefits [of] #densification. The costs to #municipalities and #taxpayers for all [these] #infrastructure investments and #maintenance is not factored into the equation either. The Canada Urban Institute estimates the infrastructure cost for each home at over $100,000."
Why zoning reform won’t solve the housing crisis #housingcrisis #housing #Canada #cities #municipalities https://theconversation.com/why-zoning-reform-wont-solve-the-housing-crisis-243421?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton
‘It didn’t happen overnight’: Why property taxes are skyrocketing in some Ontario cities
Municipalities are calling for a more modern fiscal framework for the division of tax dollars to address step property tax increases.
#propertytaxes #municipalities #fiscalframework #Ontario #Canada #Economy #Politics
https://globalnews.ca/news/10909120/ontario-property-taxes-2025/
‘It didn’t happen overnight’: Why property taxes are skyrocketing in some Ontario cities
Municipalities are calling for a more modern fiscal framework for the division of tax dollars to address step property tax increases.
#propertytaxes #municipalities #fiscalframework #Ontario #Canada #Economy #Politics
https://globalnews.ca/news/10909120/ontario-property-taxes-2025/
The ‘business as usual’ approach in the occupied #WestBank, amid Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, ‘doesn’t merely highlight the decline in the role of #municipalities; it lays bare the complete dysfunction of the #Palestinian political system.’
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/palestinian-authority-west-bank-doonsday-carries-on-usual
Delighted to be a guest on CBC’s political podcast West of Centre this week, with host Kathleen Petty. Saskatchewan senator Brent Cotter and I were there to discuss the report of my Senate inquiry on municipalities. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/west-of-centre/id1496639620?i=1000671007288 #CBC #WestofCentre #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #Alberta #ableg #Edmonton #yeg #Calgary #municipalities
