CAMA WELCOMES THE LOCAL GOV CAFÉ TO DEERHURST RESORT FOR THE 2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

CAMA is pleased to welcome the Local Gov Café to the 2023 Annual Conference to cover some of the highlights and municipal innovations of our event.

This podcast, hosted by Susan Gardner and Ann Mitchell, is devoted to having conversations about municipal topics bringing you the insights and inspiration that drive and challenge communities. Susan and Ann will be talking with some of our delegates, keynote speakers, and recipients of our Awards of Excellence Program – just to name a few.  

Ann Mitchell, a CAMA member and the new CAO for the City of Medicine Hat, AB is a consensus builder with excellent leadership abilities, and her mission is to improve local government. Having completed a recent study of the critical nature of the council and CAO (City Manager) dynamic, she is now undertaking research into the area of special purpose boards and their governance structure. Innovation and creativity in local government are the key drivers that get her excited.

Susan Gardner is a management and communications strategist, with a range of experience including work with public, private, and not-for-profit organizations across Canada. She is an inquisitive municipal storyteller, producing thousands of videos, podcasts, articles, and editorials over her career. She loves sharing the success stories of local government and talking with the leaders who help their communities grow and flourish.

You can visit their café at www.localgovcafe.com 

2023 CAMA CONFERENCE

PLENARY SESSION: THE MUNICIPAL POWER STRUCTURE BETWEEN MAYORS, COUNCILS, AND CAOS

We are pleased to welcome StrategyCorp as a silver partner at this year's Annual Conference.

StrategyCorp is Canada's trusted public affairs, communications, and management consulting advisory firm. StrategyCorp’s team of political, public relations, and business strategists is the trusted strategic counsel for many of Canada's best-known brands. Their integrated service approach enables them to bring unconventional problem-solving capabilities to achieve success. Strategy leads all their work. StrategyCorp’s rigorous approach, and deep experience in business, communications, and politics enables them to understand and anticipate issues and roadblocks that others may miss.

In the era of online information, disinformation and declining trust in institutions, sound decision making has never been more important. Sabine Matheson, Principal and Municipal Services Lead at StrategyCorp, will discuss the emerging interest in the municipal power structure between Mayors, Councils, and CAOs. Using examples from recent legislative changes, the panel will discuss the role of CAOs in providing independent advice to Council and the Mayor.

This session ties in with CAMA's recently launched "White Paper on Ontario's Strong Mayor Legislation and the Pivotal Role of the CAO in Providing Good Governance".

If you haven't already signed up for the Annual Conference, registration is still open until May 15th.



CAMA'S HUMAN RESOURCES TOOLKIT

CORRECTION & DISCIPLINE:

PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE

CAMA's Human Resources Toolkit is designed to provide information regarding several different human resource topics with support through samples and links. Today's featured topic is Progressive Discipline.

Progressive Discipline is a process for dealing with behaviour that does not meet workplace standards. Progressive discipline seeks to ensure an unbiased process for managing culpable behaviours. In short, culpable behaviours are disciplinary; non-culpable behaviours are not, but should be dealt with under performance management processes. The true goal of progressive discipline is to assist employees in correcting behaviours or actions that could damage or end their employment.

For unionized, or "in scope" employees, it is important for management to know and understand the relevant clauses of the collective agreement pertaining to discipline before proceeding.

Visit the Correction & Discipline Chapter of the Human Resources Toolkit to learn more about the following topics: Collective Agreement Considerations, Involuntary Termination, Constructive Dismissal along with a number of helpful resources.

The Toolkit can be found in the CAMA's Member's Section (Click the Toolkit Button).

 CUSTOMIZE THE NEWS YOU WANT. 

ELIMINATE THE OTHER NOISE

WITH THE NEW muniMEDIA PLATFORM

So, Council has asked you to research a topic and provide a report. Where do you begin?

muniSERV has a new muniMEDIA management platform that lets you tailor the information you want to receive, to just the topics of interest to you.

muniMEDIA uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology, to scan thousands of news stories in Canada and internationally, Council meetings, Canadian Government documents, Hansards, and more, so you will always be in the know about the topics of interest to you - and then delivers them to your inbox in the frequency that works best for you. (i.e. daily, weekly, etc). 

MUNISERV & CAMA MEMBERS – TRY IT FOR FREE FOR 90 DAYS.

There is nothing to sign and the muniSERV technicians will personally walk you through the set up to ensure you get the quality of searches you want. 

You will start getting articles right away for your research projects and for monitoring the issues facing municipalities today! Click here to start your free test drive.

CAMA members can register to join muniSERV for free and in less than a minute, have access to tools and resources, and to special discounts and savings on any of muniSERV’s other unique platforms. Click here to learn more about our partnership with muniSERV.

It takes less than a minute to register your municipality for free!   

2022 CAMA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE NOMINATIONS

COLLABORATION AWARD WITH EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS

Lorraine Street Transitional Housing

During the 2021 budget process, Council unanimously approved the creation of transitional housing for up to 40 clients with wrap around services targeted to house and support homeless individuals with mental health and addictions. This development helps to fill gaps and alleviate pressures on other services such as hospitals, paramedics, police, social service, justice and correctional services by providing housing to individuals that are preparing for next steps in treatment or are being discharged from hospital but still require intensive supports to remain successfully housed.

Realization of this project began through the collaboration of a few Councillors who became champions and a driving force to see change in our community. They collaborated closely with the Mayor and staff to develop a viable plan for Council’s approval. Staff worked with representatives from our local hospital, Health Sciences North, on a proposal that would provide the appropriate level of support services required to help homeless persons move into stable, permanent housing. Once stable, individuals will move into other community pathways for treatment and movement through the housing continuum.

To view the entire awards submission visit the CAMA Member's Section/Awards of Excellence Best Practices (Search for "Lorraine Street").

Homelessness and Encampment Response

People have experienced homelessness within the City of Greater Sudbury for many years, however the situation was amplified by the opioid crisis and Covid-19 pandemic. The community experienced decreased shelter capacity, an increase in unsheltered homelessness and closure or suspension of many in-person support services. As a result, the number of people living in encampments in the downtown core increased approximately 77% within a very short period, an unprecedented experience for the community.

To support the municipality’s response, the City engaged consultant Iain De Jong from OrgCode, a consulting firm specializing in homelessness and encampment issues. This expertise guided the actions to be undertaken to effectively respond to encampments in the community. City staff established a leadership advisory team, operations team and outreach team in collaboration with community agencies to ensure a coordinated and supportive approach was taken to address encampments. Over just a few months, the situation improved significantly, with a 42% reduction in homelessness through strong collaboration and innovative ideas to provide housing-focused supports, coordinated outreach, a temporary low barrier women’s shelter and flex fund.

To view the entire awards submission visit the CAMA Member's Section/Awards of Excellence Best Practices (Search for "Encampment Response").

WELCOME NEW CAMA MEMBERS

Bruce Peever, Partner, KPMG, St. Catharines, ON

Brandi Morissette, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Oxbow, SK

Joe Milicia, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of LaSalle, ON

Chad Thomas, Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Teslin, YT

Tammy Davis, Executive Director, Professional Municipal Administrators Inc., NL