FCM Advocacy Days

This week, after the Regional Health and Social Services meeting finishes I will be heading to Ottawa. While visiting the nation’s capital is always nice, it will be a work trip on behalf of Towns and Cities form all parts of our great Country.
Each November the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) holds advocacy days. During this time we go out in groups of 3 or 4 (Councillors and Mayors), with FCM staff and have meetings with MP’s and senior staff.
It is a tremendous opportunity for us to advocate on behalf of all Municipalities for items of common interest. Such as the need to tackle the 123 Billion dollar infrastructure deficit facing our communities. Or for services like programs for new immigrants and affordable housing.
The meetings allow the MP’s to find out areas of concern to the Municipalities and also for them to provide input to us. This year it is projected that we will be meeting with 90 MP’s over a 3 day period.
Such meetings helped highlight the need for stimulus programs to be set up and money flowing quickly to the Municipalities during the present economic crisis. In Halton Hills we have had money for the new Acton Library, road projects, recreational facilities at Trafalgar Sports Park and the twinning of the CN tracks allowing GO Train service to return to Acton.
I am always awestruck as I enter into the Government buildings and especially the House of Commons. The majesty and beauty of the building is inspiring. Walking the halls there I am struck by the sense of history and hope for the future.
This year due to meeting schedules I will not be able to attend Question Period. Our MP Michael Chong had presented a motion that called on their to be renewed civility in Question Period and also put a onus on Ministers to actually answer the question.
I frankly find the format now to be a bit of theatre of the absurd. Cheap shots and theatrics for the TV cameras instead of an opportunity for questions to be put the Government about programs and ideas. Let’s hope Mr. Chong’s well received motion can restore the true sense of what Question Period should be.
I look forward to the meetings with the MP’s as well as our regular agenda. The next four days we will deal with items such as international trade, affordable housing, and infrastructure spending and rural affairs. Also on the radar will be to make sure the Municipal message is clear for the next Federal election expected probably in the spring of 2011.