FCM wins award for innovative program uniting First Nations and municipalities to improve community infrastructure and services (15/02/2012)

The Institute of Public Affairs Canada (IPAC) awarded the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) the Silver Deloitte Public Sector Leadership Award for its work with First Nations and municipalities across Canada. The Awards were announced Monday at the 2011 Public Sector Leadership Awards Gala in Toronto.

The IPAC Awards recognize organizations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership by taking bold steps to improve Canada, through advancements in public policy and management.

FCM was recognized for its First Nation - Municipal Community Infrastructure Partnership Program (CIPP), the only program of its kind in the country. The program aims to build partnerships between municipalities and adjacent First Nation communities to improve community infrastructure across Canada.

"We are honoured to receive this award," said Berry Vrbanovic, president of FCM and councillor for the City of Kitchener, Ont. "It is a great opportunity to showcase the work that communities across Canada and FCM are doing to improve relationships between First Nations and adjacent municipalities, and ensure that all Canadians have access to essential local infrastructure and services, like clean water."

As part of the program, FCM developed a best practices toolkit for implementing effective service agreements and partnerships, including draft templates. Nine participant-led training workshops tailored to the needs of each community have been held across Canada to date based on the toolkit. These workshops have resulted in 16 service agreements.

CIPP is funded by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) and supported by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).

"By forming partnerships, sharing knowledge and expertise, and pooling assets, First Nation and municipal governments have the potential to improve existing community infrastructure and services and begin to address Canada's growing infrastructure deficit," said Vrbanovic.