Municipal leaders gather
Edmonton hosts mayors and councillors from across country
City, town and county leaders will likely discuss issues ranging from police costs to transit this weekend when they meet in Edmonton for the country’s largest gathering of municipal politicians.
The annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention opening Thursday expects about 1,700 mayors and councillors.
The event is being held months before a federal election, as it was the last time the meeting was held in Edmonton in 2004.
The looming election gives civic officials a chance to press federal counterparts for support, says Edmonton city Coun. Ben Henderson, a retiring federation board member and co- chair of the local organizing committee.
“A pretty big cross- section of the country will be here through the really good work of the FCM,” he says.
“It’s a fairly major noteworthy force in the country.”
Speakers include Finance Minister Joe Oliver, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and Green party Leader Elizabeth May.
Delegates will also attend the opening FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer game Saturday between Canada and China.
Here are five key issues facing Canadian municipalities:
HOUSING
Federal spending on social housing has been declining for decades, although $ 1.7 billion in subsidies set to expire is now being maintained for another four years, the FCM says.
If subsidy agreements aren’t renewed, the group says 30,000 affordable homes that require federal funding could be lost.
“We run the risk of a lot of housing stock we have right now either going off the market or becoming a lot more expensive,” Henderson says.
The FCM wants tax incentives, permanent subsidy programs and improved funding.
TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION
People in some Canadian cities face commutes that are among the longest in the developed world.
These centres are seeking federal help to speed residents along by improving public transit, roads and bridges.
Edmonton is receiving $ 400 million from the feds for the Valley Line LRT, but wants roughly $ 600 million more to complete the route to the west end.
It’s also seeking between onequarter and one- third of the $ 243- million cost for rail underpasses or overpasses and a new interchange.
The FCM was happy with the new Public Transit Fund unveiled in the latest federal budget that gives money to projects involving the private sector.
POLICE AND SECURITY
The federation complains municipalities have been required to take on a growing share of policing duties, including such federal areas as border security and international drug trafficking.
It’s calling for all three levels of government to come up with a fairer distribution of the workload and programs to fight the root causes of crime.
The budget for Edmonton police rose to $ 360 million this year from $ 292 million in 2010.
RAILWAY SAFETY
In light of the 2013 derailment that killed 47 people in Lac Megantic, Que., municipal officials are looking at ways to reduce the danger from rail accidents.
The municipalities like rules introduced last winter that include tougher tank- car standards, higher insurance limits for railways, expanded powers for Transport Canada inspectors and the possibility of requiring railways to share information with municipalities.
WATER AND SEWAGE
The FCM says 850 of Canada’s 3,500 sewage systems will need substantial upgrades over the next 30 years to meet stricter national standards.
It estimates this will cost communities more than $ 18 billion and wants a new Clean Water Fund to help cover the expense.