CAMA Releases New Resident’s Guide to Help Canadians Better Understand Local Government

March 16, 2026 - The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) has released a new national resource designed to help residents better understand how their local municipalities operate and how decisions affecting their communities are made.

Your Local Government: A Resident’s Guide to Services, Roles & Good Governance provides clear, plain-language explanations of municipal governance, services, and decision-making processes across Canadian municipalities. The guide explains how local government functions, including the roles of Council and administration, how decisions are made, and how residents can effectively participate in their community.

“Municipal governments are the level of government closest to residents, yet many people are not always aware of how municipal decisions are made or how services are delivered,” said Brenda Orchard, CAMA President and CAO for Lennox & Addington County. “This resource helps municipalities provide residents with clear, accessible information about how their local government works and how they can engage constructively with their community.”

CAMA has developed the following resources to support municipalities in educating residents about local government:

• Your Local Government: A Resident’s Guide to Services, Roles & Good Governance – the full guide providing a comprehensive overview of how municipal government works.
• Understanding Your Municipality – Quick Facts for Residents – a stand-alone summary that municipalities can share with residents, new community members, or advisory committees.
• How CAOs and Municipal Leaders Can Use the Residents’ Guide – a companion document providing practical guidance on using the guide to support public education, council communications, onboarding, and community engagement.

Together, these resources provide municipalities with a practical toolkit to strengthen public understanding of local government and encourage respectful and informed civic engagement.

The resources are available in the CAMA Toolkit Library on the CAMA website.