Municipalities work hard to keep Canadians safe and secure. They’re on the front lines when floods, wildfires and other emergencies strike. Police and other local first responders also face a growing list of public safety challenges—from implementing cannabis legalization to tackling the opioid crisis, from rail safety to border security. Every new challenge strains already limited local resources.

We advocate for more tools to help municipalities plan for and respond to emergencies, as well as for better collaboration among orders of government to provide safe communities and protect Canadians from health and security risks. We also equip municipalities with key resources to help them meet their public safety responsibilities.

All of us want to feel safe and secure in our homes and in our neighbourhoods. Municipalities are leaders and vital partners in ensuring exactly that.


Featured news & resources

See featured resources, news, events and training related to Public safety.
News
FCM Calls on Federal Parties to Focus on Canadians’ Priorities and to Come up with Lasting Solutions

FCM outlines Canadians’ top priorities at the local level and calls for lasting solutions from federal parties.

News
FCM statement on the 2023 federal budget

Taneen Rudyk, President of FCM, issued this statement following the tabling of the 2023 federal budget.

Resources
A better life for all Canadians

A document that summarizes FCM’s priorities for the 2023 Canadian Federal Budget, including housing, infrastructure, and climate adaptation recommendations.

News
Municipalities call for support on inter-community transit, action to tackle hate speech

Municipal leaders from across Canada met today at the Resolutions Plenary of FCM's 2021 Annual Conference, where members debated and passed four critical resolutions on issues of concern for municipalities and local governments.

Resources
2020: A year like no other

Watch our 2020 year in review video to see how COVID-19 has impacted Canada's cities and communities—and how FCM is responding.

News
“Safe restart” plans include crucial support for municipalities

FCM President Bill Karsten issued this statement following the publication of new details on the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement between the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments.

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56%
police officers employed by municipal police services
18%
police officers employed in RCMP contract policing
$14.7B
total operating expenditures for police services in Canada, 2016-2017
Related focus areas
Explore the topics we’re working on related to public safety.

Cannabis

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Legal cannabis is now produced, sold and consumed in our cities and communities. We advocate for tools that help keep all Canadians safe and well served in this new environment.

Opioid crisis

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Cities and communities are on the front lines of the opioid crisis, working to stop overdose deaths. We're leading the call for a coordinated national response by all orders of government.

Rail safety

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Transporting dangerous goods by rail can put communities at risk. We work alongside the federal government to ensure municipalities are equipped to respond to rail emergencies and keep Canadians safe.
© 2025 Federation of Canadian Municipalities