Nunavut Municipal Performance Measurement

What is the average cost of recreation expenditures in municipalities with a population under 600? What is the estimated litres per capita of water delivered in Nunavut municipalities? What is the financial position of all Nunavut municipalities? All of these questions are answered annually by the Nunavut Municipal Performance Measurement Report (NMPMR).

Starting nine years ago, the Nunavut Municipal Training Organization (MTO) has been measuring, benchmarking and publishing municipal performance for all municipalities in Nunavut. The goal of the report is not to endorse any one level of services, but simply to allow municipalities to measure their results against other municipalities of the same size. This can help highlight best practices, identify areas of potential improvement, and, for the MTO especially, help design training programs.

The NMPMR has been published annually, tracking trends and results by population size in all areas of municipal government services. Over 40 areas of performance are tracked, from how much local recreation revenue is collected, to the costs of power/heat, to the bottom line of financial position.

Aarluk's Chuck Gilhuly and Geoff Rigby crunched the numbers on all 23 non-tax based municipalities in Nunavut on behalf of the MTO this year and have forwarded the final report for distribution to all municipalities.

Performance measurement and benchmarking can provide concrete, practical information for municipalities in budgeting, performance improvement, and many other areas. It helps to ensure the best services at the best possible cost, in addition to increasing the accountability of elected officials and staff to local residents. It's a process that any organization can benefit from!