In this edition of Journal, we take a close look at the challenges that mayors face every minute of every day. There is no such thing as a time-out when you are in that job.

It always surprises me when I hear our governments described in this way – most important, the federal level, next the provincial, then the municipal.

When I served in Vancouver’s municipal government, I was often asked, “When are you going to run provincially, or federally?” – as if that must be the goal. It was never my aspiration, even though for other reasons, I did eventually serve provincially.

But municipal governments are closest to the people they serve. They know what the issues are. Constituents can visit you in your office. They can appear in person to state their concerns before council, whether it is about potholes, the symphony, or supportive housing.

And mayors are the pointy end of that stick. In our minds, they are the ones responsible for housing costs, crime in our streets, fentanyl deaths, not enough density, too much density, too few bike lanes, too many bike lanes.

In many ways, a thankless job. But when done well, the good mayors become our voice on the public stage.

Mayor Mike Hurley of Burnaby is certainly in the spotlight these days. Elected in 2018 as an independent, he was re-elected in 2022 by acclamation – a strong vote of confidence.

And, as if being in charge of this bustling, well-run, and growing municipality were not enough, Mayor Hurley has recently taken on the role of Chair of the Metro Vancouver Regional District at a tense time when the overdue and over-budget waste water plant fills the headlines. Brave.

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In this episode of Journal, we take a close look at what is happening to city planning.

When I was in civic politics, things were definitely not perfect, but I would say the governance structures and roles were clearer than today.

For instance, at that time, the federal government did not deal directly with municipalities – they worked through the provincial government. Not today. The Trudeau government has gone straight to certain cities with financial enhancements, even if it’s not a provincial priority. Several premiers are not happy.

On the question of zoning: in the past, that was exclusively a municipal responsibility. Not today. British Columbia’s provincial government has introduced density rules. Some call it a one-size-fits-all policy for cities throughout the province. This initiative overrides any neighbourhood planning done by municipalities. Many mayors are not happy.

Of course, one of the consequences of increased density is the need for infrastructure improvements – water, sewer, and electrical loads all need to be upgraded. As Mayor Mike Hurley of Burnaby has said, we have to handle all those new flushing toilets. These are major costs. Who is going to pay?

And what about transit, the service that ties communities together? We have been told that BC Transit’s business model no longer works and they will be $600 million in the hole by summer – never mind even considering increasing service and buses for all those new residents.

These are all pieces of a puzzle that don’t seem to fit together. Andy Yan is someone who has the responsibility of looking at the city holistically. As the Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University and a planner himself, he is a respected commentator on what makes cities work and what doesn’t.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

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In this edition of Journal, we look at the specific complaints of the President of the United States about Canada’s border security and fentanyl exports.

Here’s a surprising question: is President Trump right on this? Does Canada have a problem with the protection of our border and are we exporters of fentanyl? He has repeatedly said these are genuine concerns, not a negotiating gambit to get a better trade deal. We’ll see.

One thing for sure, President Trump has got the attention of our federal government. All of a sudden, there is money – over a billion dollars – coming into the system for better border protection, helicopters, and manpower. Funny: isn’t it that in previous years when premiers, especially the premier of Quebec, complained about illegal crossings, with not much action?

But this last year, the headlines have changed:

“2 men charged after US prosecutors say BC freight trains used for human smuggling.”

“Terror suspect accused of plotting a mass shooting in New York came to Canada on student visa. “ (He was then arrested trying to cross illegally from Canada to the US.)

So that’s the border issue. But what about the fentanyl concerns?

A recent assessment from Canada’s Criminal Intelligence Service that says Canada should be considered a source country for fentanyl and other drug shipments moving internationally.

And if that wasn’t blunt enough, a Wall Street Journal headline said, “Canada is becoming a fentanyl exporter and target for Trump.”

To help us ascertain the facts, I have asked Calvin Chrustie to join us. Calvin is an international security expert who has spent 25 years with the RCMP and is recognized for his work on transnational crime.

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