Regional Councillor Report

Submitted by: Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4

Date: June 11, 2007

Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference

Opening Plenary - Philip F. Mangano, Executive Director, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness

Appointed by President Bush in 2002 as Executive Director, Mr. Mangano leads the agency who’s mandate is to ensure that the President’s commitment to end homelessness achieves realization. Mr. Mangano spoke about their research that indicated the homeless just want a place to live. The keys to success were a partnership between levels of government combined with a business approach based on principles of discipline, accountability and measurable results. The funding commitment by the federal government has steadily increased resources for the past seven years in order to correct the homelessness problem. Combining housing plus support services has resulted in an 85% rate of retention of housing. In 25 U.S. cities there has been a reduction in homelessness. Portland, Oregon implemented their homelessness plan just 2½ years ago and have seen a 70% decrease of people living on the street and residing long term in shelters. Further information may be found at www.usrich.gov.com

Why Foreign Investment Matters - Bernard LeMay, Deputy Director - Partners Relations- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

This session provided information as to the different roles each order of government plays in investment development with a specific focus on municipal needs and perspectives.

Study Tour - Bonnybrook Sewage Treatment Plant

A tour of the city of Calgary’s award winning wastewater treatment plant provided an overview of this state of the art facility, that processes up to 500,000 cubic metres of wastewater per day. The plant is designed so that the sewage proceeds from preliminary treatment, through primary treatment clarifiers and then through ten biological phosphorous and nitrogen bioreactors. Both secondary and tertiary treatments occur in the BPNR bioreactors. The disinfected effluent flows from the ultra violet light disinfection facility into the Bow River. The Bonnybrook plant was rated A+ by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, the only city in Canada, to receive such a grade. Calgary staff advised that all sewage plants in Alberta that service more than 50,000 people are mandated to have tertiary treatment which adds an extra level of protection. More information can be found at www.calgary.ca/wastewater.

Study Tour - The Water Centre, Calgary

In 2003, Calgary became the first Canadian municipality to adopt a sustainable building policy. Since then, all new City buildings and major renovations to existing ones, are designed to meet or exceed the silver level rating of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The Water Centre which is under construction has been designed to have minimal impact on the environment as well as providing a healthy and dynamic working environment for Calgary city employees. Low water use fixtures, water wise landscaping, recycled building materials, maximizing natural light , green roof and the usage of environmentally friendly cleaning supplies are just some aspects of the building. A fitness centre for employees, bicycle storage, welcoming lunchroom and employees’ control of ventilation vents are designed for employee health and wellness.

As a result of Calgary’s public art policy stating that 1% of the capital cost be allocated to public art, the foyer will be enhanced by a sculptural translation of the Water Centre’s purpose. Public art will also be a feature in the landscaping on the exterior of the building. When open, the building will house about 400 city employees. More information may be found at www.calgary.ca

Study Tour - The Stampede

This tour provided information that would be useful to municipalities in developing a tourist destination and strategy. They spoke of the importance of the link to the history of Calgary, the goal of providing a valuable customer experience instead of being focused only on drawing large numbers to the venue, as well as being inclusive of the community and the important role that the native aboriginal community plays in the planning and execution of the stampede. The importance and process of branding the event was also discussed.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper spoke of the unemployment rate being the lowest in 30 years, the gas tax funding for municipalities was guaranteed until 2013, GST rebate 100% by July 2007 and that greenhouse gases would be cut by ½ by 2015. In his remarks, Harper stated that the era of voluntary compliance was over, they would initiate mandatory reductions and incentives for new technology. He advised that their government’s infrastructure program was the largest investment in 50 years. He also spoke of his government’s goal of a safer Canada with mandatory prison sentences for crimes committed with guns and reverse onus for bail, as well as the commitment by the federal government to provide 2,500 more police officers.

Jack Layton, Leader, New Democratic Party

Jack Layton spoke of the NDP childcare bill that has passed second reading and asked municipalities to endorse this Bill. He also spoke of the need for long term, sustainable funding for municipalities to address homelessness and develop a national transit strategy. He criticized Minister of Transportation Cannon’s announcement of the development of a National Transit Strategy that was not accompanied with resources. He suggested that instead of a corporate tax cut, the $1.6 billion should be directed to affordable housing annually and also indicated that $1 billion is needed for public transit. In addition, Layton felt that the Harper announcement of 2,500 new police officers should be included in the budget, if there was to be a true commitment shown to public safety. He expressed concern about the trend towards private ownership of water facilities. Citing the Bay, Molsons and the Fairmont, he is also concerned about U.S. takeover of Canadian companies. Investment Canada is supposed to show that any foreign takeover must show a net benefit to the municipality but municipalities are not asked as to the effect. He suggested that municipalities request that their input be solicited.

In his opinion government surpluses should be directed to address the $6 billion municipal infrastructure deficit, and that the reduction of the GST by 1% should be directed to municipalities.

Stefan Dion, Leader, Liberal Party

Stefan Dion criticized Minister Cannon’s announcement of a transit strategy without dollars attached to it. He also reminded delegates that the rebate of the GST and the gas tax revenue for municipalities were initiatives of Paul Martin’s government. The New Deal was the beginning of municipalities working in partnership with the federal government. In Dion’s opinion, public transit needs a full partnership between the federal level and municipalities. The Liberals would make the gas tax allocation permanent and develop a twenty year strategy for infrastructure. His party would make changes to allow foreign students to apply for citizenship easier and speed up the process for recognition of credentials for foreign trained professionals.

He stated that the Harper proposal of a cut to the GST will reduce revenues by $5.5 billion which is about the same amount needed to lift out of poverty the 1 million Canadian children and their families currently impacted. In addition, he stated that we need to invest in housing and climate change. The cancellation by the current government of the Energuide program for low income Canadians was, in his opinion, a mistake. He stated that about 55% of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions can be influenced by municipalities and that the federal government needs to work in concert with municipalities to effect these reductions. He directed delegates to the Pembina website for information regarding climate change and what municipalities are doing. www.pembina.org

FCM Resolution - One PerCent of GST

The FCM delegates adopted a resolution calling on the Federal government to share the equivalent of one cent of the GST with municipal governments so they can invest in future prosperity of their communities. This would yield about 5 billion dollars for all municipalities to invest in infrastructure and quality of life initiatives. The motion is as follows:

Be it resolved that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities call upon the Government of Canada to annually share revenues equivalent to one percent of the GST with Canadian municipalities which would yield about $5 billion per year in additional funding for local governments.