Strengthening Small Town and Rural Municipal Governance

Municipal governments form the foundation of local democracy in Canada, directly impacting citizens' daily lives through their decisions and actions. However, several incidents across various Canadian municipalities have highlighted concerning (and hopefully isolated) patterns of conduct and questionable decision-making processes that undermine public trust.

In small municipalities, where everyone knows everyone, the impact of administrative and council misconduct can be particularly devastating to community trust and effective governance. Recent incidents have highlighted how unprofessional behaviour and lack of transparency in small-town governance can create lasting divisions within communities.

When Personal Becomes Political: Small Town Dynamics

In small municipalities, where council members and administrators often have personal connections with residents, maintaining professional boundaries becomes especially challenging. Recent incidents demonstrate how these dynamics can lead to serious breaches of conduct:

• In 2022, a council member was recorded making disparaging remarks about local farmers during a closed-door session, referring to them as "troublemakers" when they raised concerns about water management policies. When the recording became public, it revealed not only the inappropriate comments but also how other council members laughed along instead of maintaining professionalism.

• A municipal administrator used their personal Facebook account to mock residents who spoke at council meetings, sharing private details about their permit applications and making light of their concerns. This breach of privacy and professionalism led to significant community distrust and eventual administrative turnover.

  
  

• When a resident questioned council about road maintenance priorities, they were publicly berated by a council member who claimed they were "always complaining." The resident, who operated a local business, later reported feeling intimidated about attending future council meetings, effectively silencing their voice in community matters.

  
  

• In 2021, a municipal administrator filed a police report claiming a resident had made threats during a council meeting. Video evidence later revealed the resident had simply voiced strong opposition to a controversial rezoning decision. The administrator's false report led to the resident being charged (with charges immediately stayed), creating a chilling effect on public participation in council meetings.

  
  

• A municipal officer coordinated with local law enforcement to characterize legitimate protests about water quality as "potential public disturbances." Internal emails revealed the officer had misrepresented peaceful information pickets as threatening behaviour, resulting in unnecessary police presence at public meetings and intimidation of concerned citizens.

  
  

Recent investigations have revealed other concerning behaviours:

• Using municipal position to settle personal scores

• Selective enforcement of bylaws based on personal relationships

• Dismissive treatment of residents during public comment periods

• Sharing confidential information in informal settings

• Making decisions in unofficial gatherings outside council chambers

These incidents represent a severe breach of public trust and highlight how municipal positions can be misused to suppress legitimate civic engagement. The consequences of such actions include residents feeling intimidated about participating in municipal affairs, erosion of trust in municipal administration, creation of a hostile environment for public discourse, and legal liability for the municipality.

10 Tips for Municipal Leaders

Small municipality leaders must maintain professionalism even in challenging situations. Policies and standards of conduct are only effective if they are adhered to with a high degree of accountability. To rebuild trust and ensure professional governance, small municipalities should:

1. Treat all residents with equal respect regardless of personal history

2. Keep personal relationships separate from municipal duties

3. Maintain confidentiality in small social circles

4. Handle criticism and disagreements professionally

5. Maintain transparent decision-making

6. Implement anonymous complaint systems

7. Establish clear conflict of interest guidelines

8. Require regular ethics training specific to small community dynamics

9. Create standardized response procedures for resident inquiries and provide tools and/or support to navigate complex municipal procedures

10. Record (written, audio, and video) all official meetings, including committee meetings and making them accessible for all.

Conclusion

The stakes for municipal governance have never been higher. As communities face increasingly complex challenges, from climate change to a housing crisis, the need for transparent, accountable, and professional leadership becomes ever more critical. Residents of small communities deserve the same level of professional, accountable governance as their urban counterparts.

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📞 Contact us today to arrange for a highly-rated 2-3 hour Respect and Civility in Municipal Government training session for Council and staff. Certified investigation services are also available, if needed. Together, we can make a difference!