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300 Oufferin Avenue P.O. Box 5035 London, ON N6A4L9 London CANADA December 6,2005 Chair and Members Board of Control RE: Meeting of the National Board of Directors - Federation Canadian Municipalities Ottawa, Ontario - December I-3,2005 We are very pleased to provide the following summary and a copy of the FCM's election strategy for the Board of Control's information: INTRODUCTION Overview FCM's National Board of Directors met in Ottawa, December 1-3, 2005, for its regular meeting. With the January 23 federal election as a backdrop, the Board called on all federal parties to clarify where they stand on key municipal issues. Of specific concern during the course of the campaign, the Board identified the need to secure a long-term legislated commitment to eliminating the infrastructure deficit, as well as the need to secure the quick transfer of money for affordable housing and transit contained in Bill C-48, and to develop a strong partnership between the Government of Canada and the municipal sector. As part of this call, the Board urged the broadcasters' consortium that will organize the four scheduled leader's debates to guarantee municipal issues would be discussed (see attached news release). Televised debate In keeping with its proactive strategy, the Board kicked off the proceedings with a nationally broadcast town-hall meeting with representatives of the Liberal, Conservative and New Democratic parties to discuss and debate where the three parties stand on municipal issues. Board members heard and questioned John Godfrey, Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities, and opposition critics Rahim Jaffer of the Conservative Party of Canada and David Christopherson of the New Democratic Party. The event was co-sponsored by FCM and the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) and moderated by CPAC host Ken Rockburn and was broadcast live. CPAC will re-broadcast the event during the election campaign. Fourth Municipal Leaders' Summit on Climate Change In preparation for the Fourth Municipal Leaders Summit on Climate Change, co-sponsored by FCM, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the City of Montreal, FCM First Vice-president and Winnipeg city councillor Gord Steeves, Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay, and ICLEI Secretary General Konrad Otto-Zimmerman briefed media via conference call. Municipal leaders from around the world are meeting in Montreal from December 5 to 7 and will work toward a joint declaration on climate change initiatives and objectives. FCM is represented by Councillor Steeves and CEO James Knight. Election Strategy The Board also developed an election strategy designed to push municipal issues and concerns onto the national agenda and the platforms of the federal parties during the election campaign. STANDING COMMllTEE ON COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION Vice Chair Randy Goulden welcomed members of the committee and led the discussion on amendments and approvals of the committee's work plan. The committee reviewed a recommendationfrom Mayor Derek Corrigan of the City of Burnaby regarding the Mayors for Peace movement and agreed to forward the recommendation to staff for action. Committee members discussed the effects of crystal methamphetamine use on their communities said municipalities should share information on local strategies to combat use of this drug. Councillor Berry Vrbanovic provided an update on the work of the National Coordinating Committee on Marijuana Grow Operations and Organized Crime Working Groups. Major-General (Retired) Clive Addy presented an update on the research his firm, the National Security Group, is conducting for FCM. He was joined by former RCMP Commissioner Phil Murray. Research outcomes will include a comprehensive review of the Government of Canada's security initiatives, with consideration of the role municipal governments can play in developing current and future national strategies on emergency management, disaster mitigation and pandemics, and a final report on Government of Canada responses to the new security environment. Staff presented the 2006-2007 Community Safety and Crime Prevention Policy Statement outline, which was reviewed and approved by the committee. The joint Chairs, Councillor Ron Hayter and Richelle Leonard, provided an update from the Joint Committee on Community Corrections. The committee discussed funding for policing in local communities, as well as various concerns related to the renewal of RCMP contracts in 2012. The committee also discussed the City of Toronto's pandemic plan and asked staff to circulate the report on the plan to the Board of Directors. RURAL FORUM Chair Larry McDermott provided an update on activities, including FCM participation in the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation Conference in Twillingate, NL, and meetings with Parliamentary Secretary Wayne Easter. Mayor McDermott outlined discussions with rural organizations in the United States and emphasized the need to build relationships with them. Jack Hayden provided an overview of recommendations made by the Prime Minister's External Advisory Committee on Cities and Communities in its report, which will be released in April 2006. Research shows that rural communities are responsible for well over 50 per cent of the resources exported from Canada and are strong contributors to the national economy. Rural constituents have clearly outlined the mounting infrastructure challenges in small communities and the importance of relationships between urban and rural communities. Mr. Hayden has forwarded a recommendation to the federal government to ensure full participation by rural members in the sector-table process. The Forum agreed to establish a task force on rural advocacy groups to develop recommendations on structure and funding options for review by the Forum in March 2006. Members discussed the need to ensure representation from British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The Forum discussed a staff proposal to augment communications and strengthen the Forum's advocacy function by adding a media-outreach component to future Forum meetings. A new format was proposed for the meetings beginning in March 2006, with equal time allocated for advocacy and policy. Mayor McDermott spoke about need to build the federal government's capacity to respond to the needs of rural communities. He suggested that a Minister responsible for rural affairs would strengthen this function. The Forum discussed the adverse effects the federal gun registry has had on rural and northern communities. Members examined the proposed outline for the 2006 policy statement on rural issues, and committed to approving the outline by conference call when additional comments have been received. Members also reviewed the status of the September 2005 committee recommendationsand received an update on the sector-table process. NORTHERN FORUM Chair Doug Graham provided an update on current events in Yukon, including efforts to develop a template for Integrated Community Sustainability Plans. Forum members indicated their interest in the material on youth exodus being developed by the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development. The Forum examined the proposed outline for the 2006 policy statement on northern issues and agreed to approve the outline by conference call when additional comments have been received. The Forum also discussed the value of sharing information regarding northern and rural issues across jurisdictions, and of institutional structures to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal groups in the territories. To prepare for the upcoming federal election, the Forum reviewed issue briefings on the federal Northern Strategy, infrastructure, broadband and economic development. The Forum also reviewed the status of recommendationsfrom the September 2005 meeting. Members discussed an update on the sector tables and expressed the need to represent issues from communities north of the 55Ih parallel. They cited travel costs as a significant barrier to northern participation. Tanis Houck, Project Coordinator for FCMs Increasing Women's Participation in Municipal Government project, reported on progress to date and expressed interest in organizing a project workshop in the North. STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Standing Committee reviewed and adopted the proposed outline for the policy statement on environmental issues and sustainable development. Members were invited to submit additional comments to FCM staff before January 15. A more detailed draft of the policy statement will be distributed to committee members by January 31, 2006. The Committee received an update on community energy missions and sector tables, then discussed and endorsed the recommendations included in FCMs submission to the federal government on the proposed offset system for greenhouse gas emissions. The report "Adapting to Climate Change: An Introduction for Canadian Municipalities" was provided to members for information purposes. The Committee reviewed and discussed a draft of the Municipal Leaders Declaration, being developed for presentation at the Fourth Municipal Leaders Summit on Climate Change in Montreal, a parallel event of the 11th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) taking place in Montreal Dec. 5-7. STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FCM foreign partners and FCM staff were introduced. Brock Carlton, Director