CAMA Releases Updated Council Orientation Toolkit to Support Strong Municipal Governance

June 12, 2026 – The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) is pleased to announce the release of its updated Council Orientation Toolkit: How to Build a Successful Council Orientation – Building Strong Governance, Relationships & Respectful Decision-Making.

Recognizing that effective governance begins long before difficult decisions, conflict, or public scrutiny arise, the enhanced Toolkit provides practical guidance and resources to help municipalities build strong governance foundations, strengthen Council-administration relationships, and support respectful, effective decision-making throughout the Council term.

Designed primarily for Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), the Toolkit can be used following municipal elections, during leadership transitions, throughout the Council term, or whenever governance challenges arise. It is also a valuable resource for Mayors, Chairs, Councillors, Clerks, and senior municipal leaders.

"This updated Toolkit reflects the realities facing municipalities today and provides practical, experience-based resources to support strong governance and successful Council-administration relationships," said Marc Melanson, CAMA President and City Manager for the City of Dieppe, New Brunswick.

In addition to the full Toolkit, CAMA has developed a series of companion resources for CAOs as well as several stand-alone resources that can be shared directly with elected officials as part of Council orientation and ongoing governance development.

Members are encouraged to visit the CAMA website to explore the complete collection of resources, including the full Toolkit, companion guides, and Council member reference materials.