Reports

Canada's first report card on municipal infrastructure offers an objectiveassessment of the state of infrastructure, and infrastructure management, in 123 municipalities. This report card consolidates data obtained from a voluntary survey of Canadian municipalities, which was designed to assess the condition of municipal infrastructure in 2009-2010.

The Building Canada Plan will soon expire, casting a shadow over recent progress made in addressing Canada's municipal infrastructure needs. This report highlights how critical it is to continue building and renewing the infrastructure that is key to our continued economic vitality as a country.

Data from 27 municipalities and urban regions show household income failing to keep up with home-ownership costs, which have risen three times faster than income since 2005. At the same time, the number of rental units has declined and the cost of renting in these communities has risen by more than 20% since 2000.

From our largest cities to our most remote villages, communities matter:  to our economy, to our families, to our future. Like never before, Canadaneeds strong cities and communities to compete in the global race for jobs, talent, and investment.

This report helps to understand the underlying health of Canada's cities and communities in 2012.

The world economy is going to get greener. Rising energy prices and increased scarcity of non-renewable resources will drive new and innovative ways to meet global needs while confronting the consequences of pollution and climate change.

FCM's report, The Housing Market and Canada's Economic Recovery, is calling on the federal government to provide low-interest loans to finance new rental construction; reform the tax system to prevent the demolition of existing rental housing; and provide incentives to lower rental costs through better energy efficiency.

This report is the MSTW Planning Districts first summary of the regions GHG emissions by sector, forecast for future emissions, reduction targets, and strategies to reduce GHG emissions for both the municipalities as corporations and the communities at large.

FCM says new fibre optic technologies and proposed changes to telecom foreign ownership rules have the potential to create a “perfect storm” that could swamp municipalities and cost Canadian property tax payers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Comparison of social and economic conditions for immigrants and non-immigrants between 2001 and 2006 in the communities making up the Quality of Life Reporting System

A new report showing the federal government can jump-start its national climate change strategy by partnering with municipalities on cost-effective, community-based projects.

FCM's Rights of Way (ROW) Handbook provides members with the best information currently available on safeguarding municipal rights and maximizing cost-recovery with respect to the siting, maintenance and installation of telecommunications infrastructure in our cities and communities.

FCM's 2009 report report shines a light on the growing crisis in rural Canada and its implications for our national economy.

Most recent immigrants are struggling to catch up with other Canadians, while underfunded municipalities are struggling to meet the day-to-day needs of newcomers and respond to changing patterns in immigrant settlement. These are among the principal insights of the fifth theme report in the Quality of Life series.

The list of shovel-ready projects was derived from a survey of FCM members conducted over the last six weeks and includes simple rehabilitation to major new construction. If fully funded, these infrastructure projects would create over 150,000 jobs.

The list of shovel-ready projects was derived from a survey of FCM members conducted over the last six weeks and includes simple rehabilitation to major new construction.

FCM Response to federal consultations on a national strategy for critical infrastructure

The report, “Highway Robbery How Federal Telecom Rules Cost Taxpayers and Damage Public Roads”, describes a federal regulatory regime that has deprived local governments of the power to recover road management and repair costs from telecom companies that tear up and occupy roadways to expand, upgrade and operate their networks.

Reflections on Rural Development - by Dr. Donald Savoie

The study, conducted in June 2008 and updated in October 2008, looks at the economic impact of accelerated infrastructure investments. It compares the stimulus impact of $1 billion in tax cuts (personal and excise tax) to the same amount in accelerated infrastructure investment. The study shows that even a combined $2-billion tax reduction would produce fewer jobs and a lower economic stimulus than $1 billion dollars spent upgrading roads, bridges and water mains.

This report shows how municipalities have seen their share of policing costs rise dramatically over the last 20 years, while municipal police forces have had to take on more and more of the traditional federal enforcement role.

The largest-ever survey of Canadians' attitudes on municipal issues shows they believe municipal governments do not have the resources they need to meet the challenges facing them, and they want the federal government to play a major role in fixing the problem.

FCM's response to parallel processes launched by Environment Canada and the CCME for the management of municipal wastewater effluent.

With thousands of Canadian families struggling to find an affordable place to live and federal housing funds scheduled to end in March 2009, Canada urgently needs a renewed funding commitment and a national housing plan led by the federal government.

Despite increased levels of homeownership, finding an affordable place to live is still a challenge for the most vulnerable in Canada´s big cities. This was one of the principal findings of the fourth theme report in FCM´s Quality of Life series. The report, looks at affordable housing and homelessness between 2001 and 2006 in the 22 large and medium-sized municipalities and urban regions that make up the Quality of Life Reporting System (QOLRS).

Rising gas prices are cutting into Canadians´ spending power and prompting them to consider taking public transit for some relief, according to this national survey. Too few trains and buses may derail a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move people from cars to transit.

The report, Danger Ahead: The Coming Collapse of Canada's Municipal Infrastructure, says that Canada has used up 79 per cent of the service life of its public infrastructure. It sets the price for eliminating the municipal infrastructure deficit at $123 billion.

A report by Professor Pierre J. Hamel of Montreal´s INRS-Urbanization looks at specific examples of municipal P3s to determine how, and how well, these projects work. The new report, Public-Private Partnerships and Municipalities: Beyond Principles, a Brief Overview of Practices, presents his findings.

FCM describes the regulatory framework needed to facilitate municipal participation in carbon markets.

The release of this national transit strategy proposal supports the June 2006 BCMC and FCM reports that provided recommendations for addressing the fiscal imbalance in cities and communities. The reports recommended the creation of a national transit strategy, the realignment of roles and responsibilities with appropriate resources and sharing revenues that grow with the economy. 

FCM submission to the legislative committee on Bill C-30 - the proposed Clean Air Act - it calls on the federal government to formally recognize the role local governments play in combating smog and climate change.

A report submitted to Environment Canada highlighting the municipal role in promoting Air Quality and Climate Change mitigation, as well as recommendation to support that role.

FCM Submission to the Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities on municipal priorities

The report focuses on the challenges facing urban communities trying to balance economic growth and environmental health.

An analysis of municipalities' ecological footprint as a tool for monitoring progress towards sustainability

This report clearly identifies the changing conditions affecting our communities

Trends in Income, Poverty and Basic Needs the widening income gap

2004 Highlights of Quality of Life indicators in Canadian cities

A Comparative Overview of Municipal Government in Canada, the United States and Europe