Partnership stressed at FCM conference

One of these forums of ideas took place last week in Calgary, when the Mayor and three city councillors, including myself, attended the annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The FCM presents a strong, unified voice to senior levels of government on matters of interest to member cities. The purpose of the conference is to review the past year’s progress, establish an agenda for the future, and to conduct internal elections and committee nominations.

The FCM was founded 70 years ago (with Westmount as a founding member) and now represents 1,600 municipalities. Among many other achievements, it was the driving force behind the Green Municipal Fund, a $550 million Government of Canada endowed fund, the only national fund that specifically addresses the needs of municipal governments and their partners. The Green Fund has become the premier source of financial solutions, resources, expertise and services for municipal governments pursuing environmental infrastructure initiatives.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and Stéphane Dion each addressed the assembly on consecutive days. There were some common themes in the three speeches: all stressed the importance of ‘partnership,’ the need for guaranteed long-term federal financing for municipalities, to help with the cost of what Dion called “the infrastructure deficit,” and the importance of environmental initiatives.

Layton, a former president of the FCM, received the warmest reception. Layton invited city councils to pass resolutions supporting the NDP-sponsored childcare bill, now winding its way through Parliament. He also called on the FCM to have local resolutions calling for government surpluses to be dedicated to municipal infrastructure financing.

General Rick Hillier, chief of staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, gave a rousing 45-minute speech with a slide show, without notes. He explained what Canadian forces are doing on our behalf, why they are doing it, and how Canadians can help them. Canada’s cities and towns are home to most of the young men and women who wear Canada’s uniform around the world. Whether it is in Afghanistan or here at home, these soldiers need the support of their families, friends and neighbours every day.

In addition to speeches, conference delegates attended study groups, committee meetings, and a large trade fair for merchants and organizations with products and services that municipalities may need or want. Topics covered in seminars, meetings and tours included water and waste water, public security, sports and recreation programmes and facilities, community transportation (a hot topic this year), waste management, finance, infrastructure and trees, parking, pest control and the recovery of lost pets. I was particularly interested in an interactive website about safety awareness, aimed at children, parents and teachers. You can find it at www.thinkresponsibly.ca.

The value of the conference is in learning what the FCM is and does, and how it helps us to better appreciate the work municipal governments do, and see how that service might be improved. It is a vital tool for cities like Westmount, as we look to the future of municipal government and how it serves the public.

• George Bowser is City Councillor for District 5.

More information on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is available online at www.fcm.ca