Mayor Van Minsel recently attended the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Conference in Calgary, Alberta. It was the largest to date with over 3,100 participants. A new municipal growth framework was presented, which offers an alternative to relying solely on property taxes. This information has been distributed to Council to review and will be the subject of a future workshop.
The Mayor also highlighted the FCM-managed Green Canopy Fund, a $291 Million initiative to encourage local climate action, and mentioned the availability of various other grants that Administration will explore. Discussions with other mayors revealed that all municipalities are facing similar infrastructure challenges, leading to a collective effort to lobby the federal government for additional funds. Mayor Van Minsel emphasized the ongoing efforts to meet with Ministers and senior staff to secure more funding for the District.
Councillor Glasman also attended the FCM conference. A multitude of sessions and keynote speakers were featured, including NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Green Party's Elizabeth May, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Councillor Glasman highlighted the opportunity to vote on resolutions being sent to the federal government. The conference also included an incredible trade show, showcasing a variety of vendors and opening access to new suppliers, funding streams, and connections with people offering solutions to similar issues faced here.
Councillor Collins highlighted that one of their election promises was to engage with federal and provincial government in new ways, including attending conferences, to find opportunities and resources for our community.