EDITORIAL: They Sky Is Indeed Falling, But Who Is To Blame?
In the current political climate, where the world is seemingly in a state of flux, one thing has become glaringly clear: Municipalities are in crisis.
Across Canada, cities, towns, villages and rural municipalities are shouldering an ever-increasing burden of responsibility, but the resources they need to stay afloat are either inadequate or nonexistent. As Ottawa and Washington navigate their respective challenges, municipal governments find themselves grappling with issues they were never intended to manage.
The warning signs have been flashing for years. Municipalities have been ringing the alarm bell, but the help they so desperately need has yet to arrive. The situation has become untenable, with local governments expected to address everything from housing shortages to social services, from homelessness to infrastructure maintenance. This unsustainable trend is forcing municipalities into a corner where they must either take on responsibilities beyond their mandate or risk failing their constituents.
Municipal governments are often described as the “government of proximity.” They are the closest to the people and are responsible for many of the services that directly impact daily life—garbage collection, policing, water and wastewater management, road maintenance, and more.
Yet, despite their critical role, municipalities operate within an outdated funding model that dates back to the 18th century. This archaic system leaves them ill-equipped to handle the modern challenges being thrust upon them.
Provincial and federal governments, regardless of political affiliation, have become adept at passing the buck to municipalities. When higher levels of government no longer want to manage a particular issue, they offload it to local governments—often without providing the necessary funding to go along with it. This practice has created a dangerous precedent, where municipalities are expected to do more with less.
Here’s where the conversation takes a controversial turn: municipalities themselves bear some responsibility for this state of affairs. As former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice once said, “It’s time to look in the mirror.” Provincial governments have become comfortable offloading responsibilities because municipalities have consistently been willing to pick up the slack. Local leaders know that if they don’t address these issues, they will hear about it directly from their residents.
But is it time for municipalities to start saying “no”?
Increasingly, municipal leaders across Canada seem to think so. Conversations with mayors and councillors reveal a growing frustration with the status quo. They are being forced to deal with issues that fall outside their jurisdiction simply because no one else will.
Perhaps it’s time for municipalities to push back. If provincial and federal governments want local governments to tackle complex problems like homelessness, healthcare recruitment, and crime prevention, then where is the funding? Where is the support?
It’s not unreasonable for municipalities to demand that other levels of government step up and fulfill their responsibilities. The current arrangement is neither fair nor sustainable. Local governments cannot continue to be the default solution for every societal problem without the resources to match.
Canada often prides itself on a “Team Canada” approach, where all levels of government work together for the greater good. But in practice, this spirit of collaboration is often more talk than action. Provincial, territorial, and federal governments frequently fail to treat municipalities as equal partners.
If higher levels of government truly believe in the Team Canada ethos, they need to start demonstrating it. That means respecting municipal governments and providing them with the funding and support they need to succeed.
Municipalities also need to take a hard look at their own priorities. Perhaps it’s time for local governments to get back to basics: policing, fire services, infrastructure, and road maintenance. By focusing on their core responsibilities and refusing to take on tasks that rightfully belong to provincial and federal governments, municipalities can send a clear message: do your OWN job.
This approach may be the only way to force higher levels of government to take responsibility for their jurisdictional duties. If municipalities stop being willing partners in the downloading of responsibilities, perhaps provincial and federal leaders will finally step up.
The stakes are high.
The current trajectory is unsustainable, and without change, municipalities will continue to struggle. It’s time for local governments to stand up and demand respect and support from their provincial and federal counterparts.
This isn’t about abandoning residents or shirking responsibility. It’s about ensuring that every level of government does its part. Municipalities cannot be expected to do everything, and they shouldn’t have to.
By getting back to basics and refusing to be the default solution for every problem, municipalities can force higher levels of government to take responsibility. It’s time for a new era of accountability and collaboration—one where municipalities are treated as equal partners, not convenient scapegoats.
If municipalities don’t take this stand, they risk perpetuating the very system that is causing their current crisis. The sky is indeed falling, but perhaps it’s time to look in the mirror and ask why that is.
The answer may be closer than we think.
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