FCM: Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party. June 5, 2015

• Wants to work closely with municipal leaders
• A seat at the national table for municipal leaders?
• Wants to address fiscal imbalance with municipalities
• Feds make 12% of infrastructure compared to municipal more than 60%
• Wants a new deal with own revenue source for a new funding plan
• Regular meetings with municipal leaders
• Substantial, stable and predictable funding with focus on fairness
• Priorities
• Affordable Housing including new rental units
• Public transit and transportation
• Lost productivity in Toronto estimated at $6bn per year
• Access alternative source of funds such as CPP
• P3 not working
• Climate Change
• 2013 flood cost $5bn, fire in Slave Lake $700k
• Smart Cities
• Home to 8/10 Canadians
• Will restore the long form census
• Increased funding for broadband
• Fairness is necessary
• A real partnership in Ottawa with Liberals
• Will debate on municipal issues with other leaders

FCM: Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance Speech

Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance. June 5, 2015

• Strong Canada begins with strong hometowns
• Cities are driving Canada: economic, social, and respective policies and funding
• Commuting is major problem in Canada
• Ave Cdn spends 32 days per year commuting
• $1bn per year for major transit projects by 2017
• Funding grew for infrastructure grew from $600m in 2006 to $2bn
• $33 bn BCF???? (this number changes so much)
• P3 development not for smaller communities
• 2013 Build Canada Plan, longest and largest in Canada: $88 bn (again I hear so many different versions of this)
• Currently $53 bn
• Increased municipal investment by 10x
• Pledge to keep taxes down
• Tax hikes undermine job creation
• Using CPP to fund infrastructure puts at risk the plan: it won't meet future demands and not designed to invest in infrastructure
• Political interference jeopardizes all Canadians pension
• Needs operational independence-CPP is for Canadians not governments

FCM: Workshops

• Community Safety and Crime Prevention
• Priorities
• Policing
• Crime Prevention
• Mitigation

June 5, 2015

 

• Municipal Infrastructure and Transportation
• Priorities
• Dedicated funding over a variety of areas
• Need additional revenue streams like gas tax
• Safe oil cars
• Almost a waste water crisis across Canada
• Airports for smaller communities: more funding and action for economic development
• Complaints about Canada 150
• Complaints about BCF
• 70% of infrastructure yet 6% funding

June 5, 2015

 

• Rural Forum
• Priorities
• Rail safety
• Disaster mitigation
• Communication
• Linear Assessments
• Gophers was also mentioned as a priority
• Bridges and infrastructure

June 5, 2015

Ray Orb, President of SARM. June 5, 2015

 

FCM: Opening Ceremony & President's Forum



Singing of O'Canada. June 5, 2015.

• Opened with Edmonton poet laureate, a prayer from an aboriginal Elder, and the singing of O'Canada by an Aboriginal group

Edmonton's Poet Laureate. June 5, 2015

 

• Over 1,700 delegates from around Canada plus the world: Poland, Ukraine, Chile, Peru and more

 

• Notley:
• Municipal government is closest to people
• Looking for fresh solutions
• Alberta municipalities will get a voice at the table

Premier Rachel Notley. June 5, 2015

 

• President's Forum: Election Campaign

President's Forum with Members from the 4 parties. June 5, 2015

 

• FCM call for a leaders debate on municipal issues
• Canadian's want infrastructure investment rather than tax cuts (Woodside)
• Infrastructure: build once, build right, build to last
• NDP: Nathan Cullen
• long term predictable funding, more from gas tax at $0.01
• Lifeblood
• Infrastructure, uncertain resource development, uncertain funding, communication
• Will do municipal issues leaders debate
• Liberals: Adam Vaughn
• Climate change: cities need to do something that is smart
• Pension funds: alternate funding
• Add 1% of GDP to infrastructure funding
• Channel funds through FCM?
• No clear on answer on municipal issues leaders debate
• CPC: Michelle Rempel
• Sector by sector approach to climate change
• Support National Mitigation Disaster Fund
• Municipal issues are core to feds and have consulted with FCM
• May participate in municipal issues debate
• Green Party: Elizabeth May
• Wants to work collaboratively
• Open Constitution to include municipalities
• Do Australia's Council of Governments
• Will participate in municipal issues leaders debate
• 1% of GST go to municipalities

To conclude questions from the floor were received and answered.

Questions from the floor. June 5, 2015

 

• Questions
• Lib: an infrastructure bank for greater flexibility in response for help with our infrastructure

FCM Registration & Regional Caucus Meeting

Today was the first day of FCM, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Annual Conference and Trade Show. This year Edmonton is hosting at the Shaw Conference Centre.

One Part of FCM Registration (around 3,000 delegates). June 4, 2015.

It was good to run into Council colleagues from Unity, Humboldt, Warman, Yorkton, and Prince Albert. We discussed the usual issues such as the Build Canada Fund, taxes, infrastructure, civic engagement and more.

Opening of Trade Show. June 4, 2015.

A couple of municipalities are very interested in what we are doing regarding an aquatic centre (preferably indoor).

Opening Evening of the Trade Show Winding Down. June 4, 2015.

The Trade Show has about 150 vendors this year with lots of municipal oriented goods and services.

Its late and the first meeting tomorrow morning at 8:00.

Elizabeth School Grade 2 Class Visit

I spent a great time this morning with 34 grade 2 students at Elizabeth School. There are a great class with good questions. Part way through the discussion we had a mock Council meeting to decide if school should only be Monday through Thursday. The class decided school should only be four days a week even if it means longer hours and less recesses.

Thank you Mrs Kirtzinger, Ms MacDougall, and Ms Burkall for the invitation.

Here are the questions.

1.  How do you become the mayor?

·         Election every 4 years

·         You have to be at least 18 years of age

·         The person with the most votes wins

·         I won with about 45% of the vote

2.  How long can someone be the mayor?

·         As long as you are healthy and people support you

·         The oldest Mayor in Canada, Hazel McCallion retired last fall when she was 93.

·         John Hamlyn has been Mayor of Crow Head Newfoundland for 52 years. His term ends in 2017 and he is currently 83.

·         The youngest mayor in Saskatchewan is Thomas Sierzycki who was 21 when elected in 2009, he is now 27.

3. How many people can run for mayor?

·         There is no limit to the number of people who can run for Mayor or Council

·         For Toronto’s last mayoral election 67 candidates registered as candidates for mayor, 18 withdrew and two re-entered for a total at the end of 51

·         The top three candidates received 97% of the vote

4.  Who else helps make decisions in our community?

·         There are many people and groups who help makes decisions

·         First, all decisions are from Council

·         Administration provides advice to Council

·         There are many groups in Kindersley who contact each other and Council to influence decisions – these include hockey, soccer, Chamber of Commerce, Hospitality Association, and more

·         Individuals also can help make decisions – Mrs Kirtzinger helped us be aware of the truck parking on her street and we were able to change that, without Mrs Kirtzinger we may not have known about the issue

5.  What do we do if people don't agree when they make decisions?

·         It is normal for there to be disagreement

·         However there is a difference between healthy and unhealthy disagreement

·         As Mayor I’m responsible to ensure Council functions in a healthy manner

·         Decisions are made when there is a majority

6.  Does our community have conflict sometimes?

·         It is normal to have conflict

·         Yes we have conflict but it is usually healthy

7.  How do we solve the conflict in our community?

·         Generally it requires talking about the issue

·         Sometimes we just agree to disagree and not everyone is happy

·         Unfortunately we sometimes don’t agree to disagree and then there are two options

·         Mediation – this happens when a person helps the two people having a conflict talk to one another

·         Court – lawyers become involved and then a judge decides the issue

8.  How does a law get made?

·         Laws are made by Council

·         For a law to come into effect it takes a majority of Council to agree

·         Leading up to the vote there are some steps involved:

·         Information is shared about the law, this is done by Administration, including the need for the law and its intended outcome; we also discuss what some unintended consequence may be

·         Stakeholders may be invited to help educate Council about the issue

·         After learning about the law then Council will discuss it to learn more perspectives

·         Finally there is a vote

9.  Why do we have community laws or rules?

·         Having laws and rules helps us to better live together with healthy relationships

·         In our constitution it calls for government to provide ‘order and good government’

·         There are three types of laws:

·         Criminal: which is for anti-social behaviour like robbery and murder;

·         Constitutional: which is about the relations between governments and governments and government and people such as can the government spy on you

·         Administrative law which is how government operates so things are fair

10.  What are some plans that Kindersley members are working on now?

·         Growth Plan includes:

·         Strategic Plan

·         Official Community Plan

·         Long Term Financial Plan

·         Infrastructure Capacity Plan

·         Organizational Effectiveness Plan

·         Communication Plan

·         Landfill Environmental Assessment Plan (closing the landfill)

·         Regional Landfill Development

·         Quality of Life Plan

·         West Central Community Centre Needs & Operational Assessment

·         Traffic Plan

·         Asset Management Plan

We are also working on: 

·         A new park between Coleman Cres and Hahn Cres

·         A new pool

·         A new sewage lagoon

·         A new landfill

·         Becoming a city

·         A plan to stabilize the delivery of healthcare services in Kindersley

“You make a living by what you take. Make a life by what you give.”

Quote by Winston Churchill

 

The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association Fundraising Workshop

Here are some highlights of the presentation at the Fundraising Workshop Councillor Shaun Henry, Michelle German and I attended in Prince Albert. The presentation was made by Stephanie Hughes and Kathleen Crowther of DCG Philanthropic Services.

·         Why is the campaign important?

·         How much money is needed?

·         Include recognition costs – only 1%

·         Bridge financing (needed because all money will not be available on the first day; some people contribute over a period of time)

·         What is the cost to raise the money?

·         Marketing

·         Research

·         Financing, etc

·         Is the project feasible?

·         Campaign resources needed:

·         Job descriptions for volunteers

·         Confidentiality agreements

·         Develop a gift chart

·         Training manuals

·         Pledge forms

·         Tracking tools

·         Gift recognition strategies

·         Asset naming opportunities

·         Donor bill of rights

·         Types of gifts include:

·         Cash

·         Credit card

·         Regular payments over time

·         Stock

·         Gifts in kind

·         Planned gift

·         Need engaged chair and support

·         Involved board

·         Manage volunteer input to avoid burnout and over reliance on one group of people

·         When making the ask

·         Have the right person ask the right person at the right time for the right amount

·         The ask is a 3 Act play

·         The Problem: we need a pool

·         The Climax: you can make a difference, please donate

·         Resolution: enough money for a new pool

·         We are thinking of a three pronged strategy

·         Philanthropic – the big amount

·         Transactional – sponsorships including grant applications to corporations

·         Community – more modest donations

·         No such thing as too much communication

·         Plan the communications

·         Leverage all interested groups to communicate

·         Successful Communication Factors

·         Direct Mail – 1% - 5%

·         Phone & Mail – 15% - 20%

·         Home Visits – 50%

·         Peer to Peer Visits – 75%

·         Successful Campaigns are:

·         Volunteer led

·         Peer to peer asks

·         Specific targets

·         Team calls

·         5 year pledge period

·         Fundraising Campaign’s Tools for Success

     1.       Volunteer Guidebook

     2.       Volunteer Terms of Reference

     3.       Prospect Activity Forms

     4.       Campaign Case for Support

     5.       Quick Facts

     6.       The Pool Project Plan

     7.       FAQs

     8.       Gift Chart

     9.       Sponsorship Opportunities

    10.   Tax Benefits

     11.   Pledge Forms

     12.   Letters of Endorsement

·         Fundraising Campaign Principles

     1.       Why the project?

     2.       Be a supporter

     3.       Select potential donors carefully

     4.       See the best potential donors first

     5.       Have the right people talk with the right people at the right time for the right amount

     6.       Do appropriate asks

Good Day at Motherwell

Sunday was a good day to be at Motherwell Trail.

Motherwell Trail. May 31, 2015

Motherwell Trail. May 31, 2015