FCM's Advocacy Days

Building the federal-municipal relationship

During FCM's annual Advocacy Days meetings, more than 100 mayors and councillors from every Canadian province and territory come to Ottawa to meet with their federal counterparts. The meetings provide an opportunity to:

• build relationships between federal and municipal elected officials;
• discuss and build support for FCM's recommendations for the government's long-term infrastructure plan; and
• build the federal-municipal partnership on other issues critical to Canadian cities' and communities' success.

FCM supports federal-municipal partnership on key federal policy issues:

1. Smarter government through better partnership: In the last few years, federal and municipal governments have worked closely to support the Canadian economy amid a global economic crisis, and rebuild Canada's aging roads, bridges, and water systems. We must continue to work together to protect our economy, communities and taxpayers in the years ahead.
2. Long-term infrastructure plan: FCM's submission to the federal government's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan Consultation - The Road to Jobs and Growth: Solving Canada's Municipal Infrastructure Challenge - provides concrete recommendations and is designed to respond to the needs and priorities of all Canadians.
3. Looking beyond infrastructure: Federal and municipal governments must collaborate on other national issues that need more cooperation and longer-term planning. These issues include:
   
   
   • fighting crime and policing our streets;
   • improving public transit and cutting traffic gridlock;
   • conserving energy and protecting our environment; and
   • working with the private sector to build more rental housing, so families, seniors and new Canadians have affordable places to live.