Tyler Downey

The past ten years have seen enormous growth of indigenous populations in the major cities of Atlantic Canada. Dating back to the Peace & Friendship treaties of the 18th century, indigenous groups and municipalities have co-existed, in some form or another, for nearly 300 years, however it took the advent of the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report to move from co-existence to partnership. Historically, indigenous peoples have been excluded from the decision-making...

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 about what you...

Municipal elections are looming this year over nearly half the provinces and territories in Canada. The renewal of terms and mandates can be as exciting as it is uncertain; after all, that’s an awful lot of change to the closest order of government to the people. Our clients and friends in BC, PEI, Manitoba, and New Brunswick are undoubtedly working hard right now to figure out how to set their communities up for smooth and successful elections to hit the ground running on the priorities of...