Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Encyclopedia
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM, Fédération canadienne des municipalités) is a civic advocacy group representing many Canadian municipalities. It is an organization with no formal power but significant ability to influence debate and policy, as it is main national lobby group of mayors, councillors and other elected municipal officials. It negotiates with the Government of Canada
's departments and agencies on behalf of municipalities, and administers a number of funds.
FCM was instrumental in negotiating the federal government's 2005 "New Deal for Cities" program under which Canadian federal gasoline taxes are remitted to municipalities.
former leader Jack Layton
is a former FCM president. The mayor of Summerside, PEI, Basil Stewart, has also been the president. He currently is the longest serving mayor of a municipality in Canada having been mayor since 1986. The organization's current president is Berry Vrbanovic, Councillor, City of Kitchener, ON.
• Successfully advocating for significant federal funding towards the $123-billion municipal infrastructure deficit. In the 2009 budget, the federal government committed more than $12 billion over two years in new and accelerated infrastructure funding to municipal priorities.
• In 2010-11, a municipality will receive $89.28 per capita from the GST and the Gas Tax Fund. The membership fee for FCM is only 0.125 of a cent per capita.
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
's departments and agencies on behalf of municipalities, and administers a number of funds.
History
In 1901, the Union of Canadian Municipalities was formed to represent the interests of municipal governments. Another association, the Dominion Conference of Mayors was established in 1935. In 1937, these two associations were amalgamated into the Canadian Federation of Mayors and Municipalities which in 1976 would be renamed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.FCM was instrumental in negotiating the federal government's 2005 "New Deal for Cities" program under which Canadian federal gasoline taxes are remitted to municipalities.
Personnel
The previous national New Democratic PartyNew Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
former leader Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
is a former FCM president. The mayor of Summerside, PEI, Basil Stewart, has also been the president. He currently is the longest serving mayor of a municipality in Canada having been mayor since 1986. The organization's current president is Berry Vrbanovic, Councillor, City of Kitchener, ON.
Successes
• Delivering $2 billion each year to municipalities from a permanent federal Gas Tax Fund. Over the next 20 years, this gas tax transfer will be worth $40 billion to cities and communities.• Successfully advocating for significant federal funding towards the $123-billion municipal infrastructure deficit. In the 2009 budget, the federal government committed more than $12 billion over two years in new and accelerated infrastructure funding to municipal priorities.
• In 2010-11, a municipality will receive $89.28 per capita from the GST and the Gas Tax Fund. The membership fee for FCM is only 0.125 of a cent per capita.