Different Countries, Different Municipalities, Same Issues?

About this episode

The episode explores the shared challenges and opportunities faced by municipalities in Canada and the United States.

Today, we’re crossing a border—but not to highlight what divides us. Instead, we’re taking a closer look at what connects communities on both sides of the 49th parallel. Municipalities in Canada and the United States share more than geography. From managing growth and infrastructure, to responding to economic uncertainty and housing pressures, local governments are often on the front lines of the same challenges. Yet, the systems they operate within—their powers, funding models, and relationships with senior levels of government—can look quite different. So what does that mean in practice? Where are cities facing similar pressures, and where do their paths diverge? And perhaps most importantly, what can they learn from one another? To help us explore these questions, we’re joined by two leaders from communities of comparable size, each bringing a unique cross-border perspective. From the uniquely positioned border city of Lloydminster, straddling Saskatchewan and Alberta, we welcome Mayor Gerald Aalbers. And from Bozeman, Montana—a rapidly growing city in the American West—we’re pleased to be joined by Mayor Joey Morrison. Together, we’ll discuss the shared challenges…

People in this episode

Host: Cross Border Network

Guests: Gerald Aalbers, Joey Morrison

Topics covered

• municipal challenges
• cross-border issues
• local government
• infrastructure
• economic uncertainty
• housing pressures

Keywords

• municipalities
• local government
• cross-border
• infrastructure
• economic challenges
• housing
• community leadership

Sponsors

Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Canada, United States, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Bozeman, Montana

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