Prince George councillors are heading home after spending the past few days rubbing shoulders and exchanging ideas with other local government reps from across the country.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) annual general meeting wrapped Monday morning in Niagara Falls, Ont., bringing to a close a four-day event that gathered more than 2,000 delegates - including seven from Prince George. Mayor Shari Green and Coun. Brian Skakun did not attend the conference.
"The time spent with different politicians, with different councillors, with different directors of regional districts is really worth it because sometimes we sit only in Prince George and try to find out what we can do, but it's very, very important to discuss and hear from others which broadens our political mind which is certainly important when we discuss issues around the table," said Coun. Albert Koehler.
The need for sustainable infrastructure funding was a message the federation got through to the federal government after lobbying for years.
Federal representatives who addressed the local government politicians at the conference - including federal Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and Green leader Elizabeth May - all spoke about infrastructure, said Koehler.
"I think they realized they have to focus on this a little bit more eventually, and also more with money," he said. "But it's certainly difficult. There's a lot of promises, but where's the money coming from?"
Koehler also attended workshops looking at ways municipalities can raise money without raising taxes and smart community planning.
"It comes down to working with sponsorships, with organizations, naming rights and something like that where cities can be quite smart and apply a smart approach because nobody likes raising taxes if it's not necessary," he said. "When we have to raise taxes, we have to but I'm coming from a different line - if we don't have to, we don't need it."
Prince George could also do with better community engagement, Koehler said.
"Sometimes there seems to be a bit, in my opinion, of a rift between city hall and our residents. We have to work together. Our citizens have to understand city hall and vice versa, which comes down to communication," he said. "I think we can do better there, compared what I've heard from other communities."
On Sunday, Coun. Garth Frizzell was re-elected to the federation's board of directors for the sixth time.
