Today
started with a session on four resolutions:
·
Canada
Post
·
Regulation
of Exotic Animals and of Zoos and Aquariums
·
National
Health and Fitness Day
·
Build
Canada Fund
Most of
these discussions were fairly straight forward. The exception was the reduction
in door to door services provided by Canada Post to many major urban centres.
Canada Post
The Resolution
Resolved,
that the Council for the Town of Halton Hills ask the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities to request that the Federal Government direct Canada Post to
maintain the current system of residential door-to-door delivery in Canada.
·
Those
who supported this resolution were, generally, from larger urban centres. They
were focused on safety, security, and convenience. Much of their conversation
seemed to focus on scare mongering.
·
Those
opposed focused on costs and decades of experience in many smaller centres who
did not experience the problems suggested by the supporters.
·
I
voted against the resolution.
The tally
surprised me: more than 300 against with less than 200 in favour
Regulation of Exotic
Animals and of Zoos and Aquariums
The Resolution
Resolved,
That the Atlantic Mayors’ Congress (AMC) supports Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums
efforts to create a more uniform and adequately resourced policy, legislative,
regulatory and enforcement regime governing exotics animals in the Atlantic
provinces and in all other provinces and territories; and be it further
Resolved,
That the Atlantic Mayor’ Congress urges the Government of Canada to create, in
consultation with the municipal sector, a federal-provincial working group on
exotic animals in human care to encourage the sharing of information and best
practices and foster a pan-Canadian approach to the management of issues
resulting from the keeping of exotic animals in human care.
·
The
resolution is a result of last year’s tragedy in which two young boys were
killed by a large exotic snake.
·
I
voted for the resolution.
The resolution
easily passed.
National Health and
Fitness Day
The Resolution
Resolved,
That the Federation of Canadian Municipalities support the recognition of a
National Health and Fitness Day and encourage its members to follow suit; and
be it further
Resolved,
That FCM encourages cities and communities to celebrate and recognize a
National Health and Fitness Day as they deem appropriate and in ways that best
suit the needs of their community.
·
An
MP has been working to make this day a reality and this is the second attempt.
·
The
Day is to be the first Saturday of June.
·
Support
of this is important because it strengthens our argument that recreation facilities
are an important municipal infrastructure investment and should be eligible for
funding under federal infrastructure programs. (currently recreation buildings
do not qualify)
·
I
voted in favour of the resolution
The
resolution passed easily.
New Building Canada Fund
The Resolution
Resolved,
That FCM call on the Government of Canada work with the provinces and
territories to immediately develop a process to receive municipal applications;
and be it further
Resolved,
That FCM urge the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments
to ensure that a significant majority share of investments under the NBCF are
prioritized toward municipal infrastructure projects in light of the critical
role municipal infrastructure plays in our long-term economic competitiveness.
·
The
Federal Government is heavily advertising their infrastructure investment in
municipalities. However, the monies are deferred and include existing
transfers. As an example this year’s infrastructure investment is $210 million
for all of Canada; Saskatchewan’s share wouldn’t help Kindersley develop a new
waste water lagoon.
·
I
voted in favour of the resolution
The
resolution easily passed.
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