Local Governance Hub Policy Briefs

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/1828/21209
Local communities and regions all have unique assets, capabilities and development ambitions. For over 20 years, the Local Governance Hub (formerly the Local Government Institute) has collaborated with local and regional governments, First Nations governments and organisations, community organisations and a wide range of professionals to support their capacity building and development goals. Our LGH Policy Briefs Series shares research and practice on local governance.

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Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Enhancing Public Participation in the Town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
    (Local Governance Hub, 2025-09-25) Bryne, Kayla
    This policy brief analyzes the state of public participation in the Town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, identifying fragmented and largely reactive engagement practices that undermine trust and collaboration among residents, councillors, and staff. Drawing on municipal policy reviews, interviews, and focus group findings, the brief reveals that existing consultation mechanisms often occur too late to meaningfully shape outcomes, leading to resident frustration and perceived exclusion. While prior efforts, such as Project Lunenburg, showcased the town’s capacity for inclusive planning, the lack of follow-through on participatory commitments has weakened legitimacy and accountability. The research finds broad agreement across stakeholder groups on the need for a shift from procedural, compliance-driven engagement toward more proactive, collaborative models rooted in transparency and shared decision-making. Recommendations include a phased pathway: immediate improvements to communication and feedback loops; medium-term adoption of a tiered engagement framework and stronger advisory committees; and long-term institutional change to embed co-governance into municipal operations. By embracing these reforms, Lunenburg can cultivate a participatory governance culture, rebuild public trust, and ensure decisions reflect the community’s diverse priorities.
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    Fiscal Limitations to Government Crisis Response: The Municipal Experience in Responding to Infrastructure Failure
    (Local Governance Hub, 2025-01-27) Stewart, Veronika
    Key messages • Government response to crises is limited by structural factors, including imperfect economic forecasting, preference for status quo, and short-term political cycles. • Municipalities face significant financial constraints in crisis management due to limited revenue sources, reliance on regressive property taxes, and restrictions on borrowing. • Local governments heavily depend on intergovernmental transfers, which can be unreliable and restrictive for crisis prevention and management. • The infrastructure crisis in Canada, exemplified by Prince Rupert's water system failure, highlights the fiscal limitations of local governments in addressing predictable crises. • Recommendations to improve municipal crisis response include broadening taxation powers, increasing intergovernmental transfers, and granting more financial flexibility to local governments.
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    Canada’s Wildfire Challenge: Building Financial Resilience in a Changing Climate
    (2025-01-27) Swail, Jason
    Key messages ● Climate driven forest fires are increasingly straining Canada’s public finance systems. ● Municipalities and Indigenous communities face the greatest financial challenges. ● Proactive budgeting can improve financial resilience. ● Investing in prevention strategies reduces long term costs. ● Intergovernmental cooperation can ensure effective responses to wildfire crises. Introduction
 
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