The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work

The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work centers on the provincial appointed CAO, with Pat Vincent describing how mandatory training, council onboarding, and role clarity affect municipal governance.

Kelly Lloyd explains how she became the CAO for both Milk River and Warner in southern Alberta after a dual-role arrangement was already in place and both councils agreed to it.

The Political Trenches links Atlantic municipal leadership to three concrete local-government disputes: online incivility, municipal spending oversight, and Quebec’s ethics rules for councillors.

Josh Saskiw, appointed CAO of Marwayne, Alberta in June 2025, says the job is the most hands-on way to influence the community he grew up in.

Brenda Orchard joins the hosts as the Chief Administrative Officer of Lenox and Addington County, Ontario.

The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work ties together Manitoba oversight, Nova Scotia strong-mayor powers, and Newfoundland and Labrador election overlap under one theme: municipal autonomy.

Brenda Ottenbreit says Saskatchewan municipal administrators are the level of government that “daily touches all of our ratepayers,” because they handle roads, water, sewer, bylaws, HR, bookkeeping, and public communication.

The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work opens with Ontario ombudsman findings that Ramara Township violated open meeting rules after councillors used group emails in October 2024 to advance business, including the removal of the food cycler program from the budget.

The episode opens with Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney using Ontario’s strong mayor powers to delegate authority back to council and the CAO, a move the hosts contrast with the province’s effort to speed up housing decisions.

The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work uses a CBC roundup to move from Gananoque, Ontario, where six councillors backed a symbolic non-confidence motion against Mayor John Beddows after an integrity commissioner found eight code-of-conduct breaches, to Sayward, British Columbia, where the village asked the BC Supreme Court to lower quorum from three members to two.

Nick Frank, CAO for the Village of Edgerton, Alberta, describes what it means to run a small municipality as an "administration of one," where the CAO is also finance, planning, operations, and often the front desk.

The Atlantic Mayors’ Congress is heading to St.

The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work opens with Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block arguing that an 8.23% property-tax increase reflects an outdated funding model and rising police costs.

The Political Trenches sits down with Saskatchewan ombudsman Sharon Pratchler for a long conversation about oversight, municipalities, and public accountability.

Season 5 of The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work opens with Greater Sudbury CAO Sherry Litterman firing five senior managers and one support staff member, plus the earlier closure of the Office of the Auditor General.

Pat Vincent, described as “the legend,” brings more than 50 years of Alberta municipal experience to a discussion of the CAO role, interim appointments, and province-appointed administration.

The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work closes 2025 by ranking the year's municipal stories, including tariffs, rural advocacy, bail reform, and council turnover.

An interview with Plainville Town Manager Michael Polis discussing the role and responsibilities of a town manager in local government.

Co-hosts discuss Alberta's new universal code of conduct for municipal councillors, an AI facility in Prince George, and appropriate protocol for taking calls from the premier.

Leadership starts close to home.

Amalgamation is the first sore spot.

A difficult note comes first.

Administrators keep communities running.

The episode opens with three municipal headlines: Smith Falls councillors Jay Brennan and Stephen Robinson suspended after hot-mic remarks, Prince George launching a federal petition on bail and public safety, and Winnipeg debating a $30,000 membership cut tied to U.S.

Viv Thoss, the CAO for the town of High Level, Alberta, says her job is to balance council expectations, community expectations, and staff expectations while keeping services moving.

David Barrick, incoming CAO for South Stormont, discusses the role of a chief administrative officer, comparing urban and rural challenges, sharing insights on education, trust-building, and the future of the profession in an interview with hosts Ian McCormack and Christopher Brown.

Interview with Kathy O'Toole, departing CAO of Halifax Regional Municipality after 25-year career.

The show launches a CAO-focused series and starts by setting the municipal agenda.

Former Saskatchewan Speaker Randy Weeks discusses his 17-year political journey from constituency president through various leadership roles to his current work promoting democratic participation.

Discussion on podcast topic with actionable insights

Craig Pollitt joins as guest host while Ian McCormick is away with travel issues returning from Newfoundland and Labrador to Alberta.

Sheila Keisig, president of the Rural Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan, explains how the RMAA supports rural administrators through certification, peer networks, and board tools rather than intervening in council-administrator disputes.

Co-hosts discuss local governance news, including a mayor running for federal office and a councillor taking leave to campaign.

An interview with city councillor Catherine McCook about leadership in local government and her ALAN Project empowering women.

Co-hosts discuss strong mayor powers in Nova Scotia and their potential spread across Canada.

An interview with former mayor Jeff Orr about his decision to retire from municipal office.

Interview with Susan McRory, former Chief Environmental Prosecutor and current Board Chair of the Land and Property Rights Tribunal, discussing quasi-judicial board processes.

An interview with David Cassels, former police chief and president of the Coalition for Canadian Police Reform, discussing police training standards and reform.

An interview with Stephen O'Brien, President of AMCTO, discussing the state of municipal administrations in Ontario.

An interview with Mayor Tony Keats of Dover, Newfoundland and Labrador, discussing the challenges and state of municipalities in the province.