Two city councillors have returned from a trip to the nation's capital optimistic that federal politicians have opened their ears to the needs of municipalities.
Garth Frizzell and Cameron Stolz took part in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' advocacy days in Ottawa last week, and engaged in intergovernmental meetings with lawmakers to push for continued support for infrastructure funding.
The group - representing hundreds of communities across the country - held more than 100 meetings with MPs and senators who, Frizzell and Stolz said, were receptive to their concerns and ideas.
While FCM has been holding these meetings for years, the federal government is only now truly grasping how important an issue the infrastructure deficit is.
"That was a nice change this year and shows that they're really aware, which is a major step," said Frizzell, who sits on the FCM's board of directors.
Stolz, who sits on the organization's municipal infrastructure and transportation standing committee, said the government is more interested in hearing what FCM members have to say than in years past.
"When we first started off, they were less understanding of what the Federation of Canadian Municipalities was and the fact that we are a neutral body," Stolz said. "There's no political line within the organization, that our sole goal is to advocate for what's in the best interest of communities across Canada."
The councillors sat in meetings or had conversations with Prince George-Peace River MP Bob Zimmer as well as Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, Veterans Affairs Minister Stephen Blaney, International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino, Okanagan-Coquihalla MP Dan Albas, Senator Nancy Greene Raine and others.
Leaders or senior officials from the New Democratic, Green, Liberal and Conservative parties all addressed the FCM delegates during keynote lunch time speeches and a reception for the group was held on Parliament Hill the first evening of the gathering.
During these conversations, FCM members advocated for their recommendations to the government's long-term infrastructure plan, which includes the indexing of a 20-year Build Canada Fund to replace the one expiring next year as well as the Gas Tax Fund. The group has also endorsed the creation of a new Core Economic Infrastructure Fund to focus on roads, bridges and transit as well as water, wastewater, storm-water and transportation infrastructure.
"Unequivocally, the federal government was supportive of the continuation of the Building Canada Fund," Stolz said. However, the request for new money may prove to be more challenging as the Canadian government deals with its own economic challenges.
But municipalities have proven to be good partners in the past by finishing projects on time and giving credit and recognition to their federal partners where due, which should help them in the long run.
The timing for these meetings was perfect, said Frizzell, as the Conservatives are preparing their 2013 budget.
"So this is the year where all the planning and putting together of packages, the work for getting it prepared for budget, has to be put together," he said. "Because, by this point, if they weren't aware we'd be way behind the 8-ball."
The next FCM board of directors meeting will be held in Prince George from March 6 to 9, where members will work on summing up their year of advocacy for the annual conference in May held in Vancouver.
