Tag Archives: democracy

CKMS News 2025-11-05- MPP Catherine Fife elected chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians

CKMS News -2025-11-05- MPP Fife elected chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians

dan kellar
Waterloo –
Becoming the first Canadian to hold the role, Waterloo NDP MPP Catherine Fife was elected to lead the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) at the organization’s conference in early October. Fife becomes the 8th chairperson in the organization’s history.

According to the group’s website, the CWP is the network of women members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Parliaments and Legislatures and is a means of” building the capacity of women elected to Parliament to be more effective in their roles”.  Fife notes that it is a “huge responsibility” but adds that “this is the kind of work that also gives me energy”.

MPP Fife says she hopes to focus her efforts around access to education, democratic engagement, human rights and climate change.

The CWP over 3,000 Women Parliamentarians, in over 180 Commonwealth national and sub-national Parliaments, .

This show features an interview with MPP Fife, who is excited to take on the role which she says is “a great opportunity to learn, and take things to the next level.”

CKMS News -2025-04-25- More Strong Mayor Powers Granted In Waterloo Region

CKMS News -2025-04-25- More Strong Mayor Powers Granted In Waterloo Region

dan kellar
Waterloo Region, ON –
On May 1st, mayors of 169 small and medium sized municipalities will be granted Strong Mayor Powers by the provincial government, giving them new abilities to direct hirings, enact by-laws, and set their budgets with less democratic participation by city councillors or the public. Since 2023, 47 other mayors have been granted the new status.

The conservative government says that the powers will help municipalities deliver on provincial priorities like building homes and infrastructure.  However, data from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation  shows that housing starts were down 33% in January and February compared to the same months in 2024, leading critics, including the Green Party to question the effectiveness of the Strong Mayor strategy.

This show starts with an interview with MPP Clancy and moves onto interviews with the Mayor of Wilmot Township Natasha Salonen, and Mayor Sandy Shantz of Woolwich Township, who are both about to be granted the Strong Mayor Powers.  Also included is a statement CKMS News received from Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe.

CKMS News -2025-02-19- Non-partisan pre-election forum to focus on building local community power

CKMS News -2025-02-19- Non-partisan pre-election forum to focus on building local community power

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON –
Ahead of the provincial election and in the midst of several overlapping social, environmental, and economic crises, the Social Development Centre of Waterloo Region is hosting the first in a series of community discussions centered on building local community power. 

The first event, called Cutting Through the Noise: A Forum for Building Community Power, is happening on Friday February 21st. Describing the impetus to organise the event’s webpage reads “history has shown us that social change is possible”.

David Alton, the facilitator of the event told CKMS News “I don’t want any political party to think they just get the vote of people in waterloo region, they have to earn it”

This show features an interview with David Alton, the lived expertise program facilitator at the Social Development Centre of Waterloo Region, and the facilitator of this first event which runs from 7-9pm on Friday, February 21 St John the Evangelist Anglican Church, on Duke St in downtown Kitchener.