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This page provides information on the work of the Centre (OCMBP) including how it will collect and analyze Municipal Performance Measurement Program (MPMP) and other data, the identification of superior municipal performers and the best practices that make them effective and efficient. Eventually these best practices will be published and shared with all municipalities so taxpayers can benefit from these innovative service delivery mechanisms. 

The Ontario Municipal CAO's Benchmarking Initiative (OMBI) is the result of an ongoing partnership among municipal CAOs aimed at providing service excellence in municipal government. Participating municipalities are working together to identify and develop appropriate service specific performance measures, capture performance data, and analyze and benchmark results, in order to identify best practices of service efficiency and quality in Ontario municipalities. The OMBI also provides a useful management tool that integrates financial and performance data to assist in decision making within municipalities.

As part of the University of Victoria, the Local Government Institute is made up of faculty dedicated to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of local governments. The institute provides information on management practices and production alternatives used by local governments across Canada to improve service delivery. Its Web site includes a database of publications and research reports in the institutes collection and four bibliographies listing other publications that are relevant to local governments.

This site, operated by the Intergovernmental Committee on Urban and Regional Research, offers users a comprehensive database and lending library. The committee's publications analyse economic, environmental and planning issues facing Canadian local governments.

The Institute of Public Administration in Canada specializes in goal-oriented action research, which it does through working groups, round-table discussions, forums, conferences and study teams. Its publications range from the theoretical to the practical. Topics include partnerships, performance management and alternative service delivery. The institute's Web site summarizes research reports, round-table discussions and its publications: Canadian Public Administration, Public Sector Management and The Canadian Public Administration Series. You can find major studies on management and public policy in the latter publication.

On this site, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat showcases best practices in public-sector renewal. The site is run by the Service and Innovation Sector, which leads government initiatives to improve service delivery. It includes policy information, publications and related links.

Municipal Excellence Network - Alberta
The Municipal Excellence Network operates by sharing knowledge, cataloguing practices and recognizing excellence. It is a new initiative being developed through the collaborative efforts of Alberta municipalities, associations and Alberta Municipal Affairs. These stakeholders are working together to provide an online resource that features a searchable collection of municipal practices from around the province. Other features include a practice request board that allows users to post requests for information, an online newsletter, upcoming events listing, and access to various articles, web links, and education/training information.

The International City/County Management Association promotes professional management in local government. It offers technical assistance, training and professional development to about 8,000 chief administrators, assistant administrators and others around the world. It also hosts the Centre for Performance Measurement, whose membership includes about 120 municipalities from across North America; members participate annually in the centres comparative performance measurement program. As well, the association collects and analyses data on a range of municipal performance measures. It also sponsors an annual awards program honouring communities and their administrators for creative contributions to the professional management of local governments.

The National Governors Association Centre for Best Practices helps American policymakers by tracking, evaluating and disseminating information on state innovations and best practices. The Centre's Web site includes a comprehensive list of case studies drawn from around the United States in areas such as brownfield redevelopment, economic development, accountability in education, quality growth and land use.

Governing magazine's primary audience consists of U.S. state and local government officials, including governors, legislators, mayors, city managers and council members. Its Web site includes a link to the Government Performance Project, a comprehensive survey of the effectiveness of core management activities. This project has ranked the performances of cities, counties and states since 1999. Specifically, it covers financial management, human resource management, information technology and systems for managing for results.

The Audit Commission of the United Kingdom appoints auditors to all local authorities and health service organizations in England and Wales. Through the audit process and various studies, it helps bring about improvements to services. The commission's Web site gives detailed information on the indicators used to measure performances. The results are collected at a national level, then analysed and published along with year-to-year comparisons and a commentary.

The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators is an organization of about 300 city managers, chief administrative officers and senior officials from all parts of Canada. It is involved in the Royal Bank Awards for Excellence in Municipal Administration. This awards program encourages improvements in municipal management, recognizes members for specific contributions and makes these contributions known to other members and the public. Besides listing past winners and upcoming events, the association's Web site links users to the sites of member municipalities.

The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships is a clearinghouse for information on partnership-related projects and developments in Canada. Through conferences, seminars and publications, this organization promotes dialogue among various sectors and increased public awareness of the benefits of public-private partnerships. It also sponsors a national awards program that recognizes governments or public institutions and their private-sector partners. The awards are given to those who demonstrate excellence and innovation in establishing partnerships that benefit the public in projects involving infrastructure or service delivery.

The International City/County Management Association sponsors an annual awards program honouring communities and their administrators for creative contributions to professional management in local government. This program aims to increase public awareness of the value of professional management in the public sector.