2023 Asset Management Webinar
In this webinar, presented on March 22, 2023, Matt Delorme informed participants about the ongoing asset management work of AIM Network and Gary Lines of ClimAction Services Inc. reviewed the Climate Resilience Framework and how it can be applied to integrating climate change impacts and adaptation issues to asset management. Because some of the slides were partly obscured Matt Delorme has provided a PDF of his slides for supplemental viewing.
NSFM's Online Asset Management Course with a New Climate Change Chapter
NSFM is pleased to offer its online course, The Basics of Asset Management for Elected Officials, which provides municipal leaders with a simple and clear understanding of asset management and how to use it to inform infrastructure decision-making and improve service delivery. The revised course now includes a new module to enhance local asset management practices by providing a methodology to help ensure municipal infrastructure is more resilient to our changing climate.
Escalating damage to municipal assets from weather-related impacts has raised the question of their durability in the face of our changing climate. These impacts are typically costly and result in service disruptions. Furthermore, infrastructure systems are interconnected and the failure of one asset can have cascading effects. So, as climate becomes more variable and extreme, communities and the infrastructure upon which they rely are increasingly vulnerable.
Infrastructure plans provide a systematic process for managing assets – both engineered and natural – and integrating climate considerations into this process can be a cost-effective climate change response. Because asset management is an exercise in long-term planning, it provides real opportunities to weave climate considerations into the process, particularly when building new or refurbishing existing assets. In doing so, municipalities are essentially protecting the investments they have made in their community infrastructure and enabling future generations to use assets well into their expected lifespan.
This online course provides a flexible option for municipal leaders to learn about asset management - at their own pace and from the comfort of their offices, homes, or wherever there is Wi-Fi. NSFM’s online course makes it easy to fit learning into a busy schedule, and there is no dress code, it requires no driving, and there is no final exam - just a few questions throughout the course to enhance learning.
NSFM’s Online Asset Management Course on the Province of Nova Scotia’s Data Collection Standard Operating Procedure Guide for Linear Assets
NSFM developed a second online course to support municipalities with linear data collection, based on the Department of Municipal Affairs’ Data Collection Standard Operating Procedure Guide for Linear Assets. This course provides an overview to the first set of tools developed by the Province through the Nova Scotia Asset Management Program. This course is offer free of charge by clicking here.
These courses may refer the student to Jennifer Duncan for provincial guidance on asset management. Instead, interested parties should contact AM.info@novascotia.ca for more information.
Video Recording of the Association of Municipal Administrators’ (in partnership with NSFM) Asset Management Workshop on the Role of Staff in Asset Management
Presented by Christina Benty (www.christinabenty.com) on November 7, 2017
Session Description
The long-time practice of short-term decisions about investment, maintenance, and renewal of assets is not sustainable. The time has come to quantify the true cost to provide, maintain and renew community-owned capital assets and balance it against the community’s willingness to pay for these services and assets.
In this session, Christina Benty outlines the role of municipal staff in asset management planning to support informed decision-making. She also provides sound advice and best practices on how to communicate the reality of the current state of a municipality’s infrastructure to its elected officials.
This initiative was offered through the Municipal Asset Management Program, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.
Video Recording of NSFM’s Asset Management Workshop on the Role of Council in Asset Management Planning
Presented by Christina Benty on November 8, 2017 as part of NSFM’s Fall Conference
Session Description
Local infrastructure provides the foundation for the health, well-being, and economic prosperity of communities across the country. Dependable core services, such as water, sewer, transportation networks, fire halls, recreation amenities, and more, make up the built environment and exist to provide services that residents rely on every day.
In this session, Christina Benty, a former mayor and councillor, explains why adopting sound asset management practices is essential to sustainable and fiscally responsible service delivery. She also outlines the role council can play in supporting the adoption of robust infrastructure practices and provides useful tips for facilitating the public’s understanding of the importance of proactively managing municipal assets.
This initiative was offered through the Municipal Asset Management Program, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.
FCM Provides Municipalities with Support for Asset Management Planning
Regardless of size or location, municipalities across Canada are seeking options to support their infrastructure planning efforts, recognizing that sound asset management practices will allow them to provide sustainable service delivery, manage infrastructure risks and meet fiduciary responsibilities. Whether they have yet to begin asset management planning or are very seasoned in systematically managing their public infrastructure, many resources exist to assist them in making strategic infrastructure decisions. One important program to support municipalities with infrastructure planning is the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), launched in April 2016. The program is delivered by FCM and funded by the Government of Canada.
MAMP is a five-year, $50-million dollar program designed to provide municipal decision-makers with the tools, training and knowledge necessary to make effective and informed infrastructure decisions and plan financially for the renewal and replacement of their assets. As Canadian municipalities are diverse and have varying levels of capacity to undertake asset management practices, MAMP provides a variety of training opportunities and resources, many of which focus on small and rural municipalities.
If you are interested in learning more about infrastructure planning, MAMP’s Technical Working Group has curated a selection of resources from across the county. Visit Municipal Asset Management Program to access these resources.
