As of the writing of this post, the province of New Brunswick held their local government elections a few days ago, and there are a series of other elections that are yet to occur across much of Canada in the late summer and fall. Following those elections, a whole bunch of new councillors, mayors, reeves, and wardens will be joining their more experienced colleagues around a council table for the next four years. At the same time, a whole bunch of experienced members will be

Former US President Joe Biden once quoted his father on the topic of political budgets: “Don’t tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value”. It’s one of those thoughts that seems simple at first blush, but you soon realize has several deeper meanings. A budget, regardless of what order of government you serve, is more than just a collection of line items and costs. It is a roadmap for your political activity, a signal to your constituents a

Project management is the backbone of any successful project. That may sound obvious, but it’s worth saying out loud. Good project management can be the difference between a successful project and a poorly executed one. Throughout my career, I’ve seen both sides of it. In the municipal consulting world, projects come in all shapes and sizes. Strategic plans, governance reviews, compensation studies, policy development and community engagement. These aren’t simple tasks you kn